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MEMOIRS 

OF 

THE  LIFE 

OF 

ASHPm®SW  BIBHIKHWP. 


BY  ROBERTS  TAUX. 


f4  He  was  the  offspring  of  humanity, 

And  every  child  of  sorrow  was  his  brother.5' 


PHILADELFHlJi: 
PUBLISHED    BY   JAMES    P.    PARKE, 

N«.   74,   SOUTH  SECOND   STREET. 

Merritt,  Printer. 
1817. 


District  of  Pennsylvania,  to  wit  : 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  that  on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of 
February,  in  the  forty-first  year  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  A.  D.  1817,  James  P.  Parke,  of 
the  said  District,  hath  deposited  in  this  office,  the  title  of  a 
book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  proprietor,  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

Memoirs  of  the  Life  of  Anthony  Benezet.    By 
Roberts  Faux. 

"  He  was  the  offspring1  of  humanity, 

And  every  child  of  sorrow  was  his  brother" 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  entitled,  "  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learn- 
ing, by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to 
the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the 
times  therein  mentjonfeoV  And  alsp  'to  the  a^ct,  entitled,  "  An 
act  supplementary  to  an  act,  "entitled,'  Ari«atct  for  the  encour- 
agement of  learnings  by  securing  .the  copies  bitmaps,  charts, 
and  books,  to,'  t,h$  auihatts^ar^^toprSetV^s.of  such  copies 
during  the  time  ltftereirf'irfehUone\I,"*&nd  extending  the  be- 
nefits thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving,  and  etch- 
ing historical  and  other  prints." 

D.  CALDWELL, 

Clerk  of  the  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS. 


WHEN  this  work  was  about  to  be 
undertaken,  the  writer  presumed  that 
ample  materials  might  be  procured, 
to  render  it  altogether  worthy  of  the 
character  of  Anthony  Benezet.  But 
although  only  thirty-two  years  haye 
elapsed  since  his  death,  no  traces  are 
discernible  of  the  mass  of  important 
and  interesting  documents,  which 
must  haye  accumulated  during  more 
than  fifty  of  the  last  years  of  his  life  ; 
devoted  as  it  continually  was,  to  the 
most  benevolent  labours,  in  relation 


M73849 


IV 

to  many  of  which,  he  maintained  au 
epistolary  correspondence  with  men 
of  celebrity,  in  America  and  Europe. 
If  access  could  have  been  had  to  the 
stock  of  original  papers,  which  were 
no  doubt  preserved  by  him,  they  would 
have  minutely  and  regularly  unfolded 
the  history  of  his  numerous  and  vari- 
ous transactions.  Instead  therefore* 
of  a  finished  portraiture  of  the  life  of 
this  excellent  man,  the  author  regrets, 
that  from  the  relics  which  have  es- 
caped an  oblivion  so  unaccountable* 
he  is  only  enabled  to  furnish  a  mere 
sketch  of  some  of  its  features.  He 
trusts  however,  that  enough  is  de- 
veloped in  the  subsequent  pages,  just- 
ly to  entitle  the  subject  of  them,  to  be 
considered  as  having  bpcn  an  illus- 
trious benefactor  of  the  human  race. 


And  although  lie  never  sought  to 
have  awarded  to  him  by  the  world,  an 
appellation  so  dignilied,  the  record 
©f  evidence  which  establishes  his 
claim  to  it,  may  serve  to  awaken  de- 
sires in  the  mind  of  the  reader,  to  pur- 
sue the  footsteps  of  this  humble  phi- 
lanthropist, in  the  hope  of  obtaining, 
like  him,  the  imperishable  reward^ 
which  is  dispensed  in  Heaven. 

Birwood  Lodge,  Eighth  Month,  1816. 


/find 


*eq\ 


LIST  OF  AUTHORITIES. 


Dr.  Rush's  Essays. 

American  Museum,  volume  IX. 

Clarksons'  History  of  the  Abolition  of  the  Slave  Trade. 

Poetical  Epistle  to  the  enslaved  Africans. 

New  and  General  Biographical  Dictionary. 

Memorials,  issued  by  the  Religious  Society  of  Friends. 

Manuscript  Memorandums,  by  Anthony  Benezet,  present- 
ed to  the  late  pious  and  venerable  John  Parrish,  furnished 
by  his  nephew  Dr.  Parrish. 

Manuscript  Book  that  belonged  to  Anthony  Benezet,  in 
possession  of  Joseph  Clark. 

Several  publications  by  Anthony  Benezet. 

Hardie's  Biography. 

Minutes,  and  other  papers  relating  to  the  Friendly  Asso- 
ciation for  regaining  and  preserving  peace  with  the  Indians 
by  pacific  measures,  supplied  by  James  Pemberton  Parke. 

Manuscript  Letters  of  Anthony  Benezet,  and  oral  informa- 
tion communicated  by  individuals  who  were  personally  ac- 
quainted with  him. 

Power  of  Religion  on  the  Mind,  by  Lindley  Murray. 

Minot,  volume  I.  chapter  10. 

Universal  History,  volume  XL,  page  201. 

British  Empire,  volume  1,  page  208, 211. 

Smollet's  England,  volume  I,  page  252,  253. 

Penn's  Works. 


MEMOIRS. 


IT  is  not  the  least  interesting  fact  connected 
with  the  virtues,  and  services  of  the  subject  of 
this  Memoir,  that  he  was  descended  from  an  an- 
cient and  respectable  family.  His  progenitors 
through  many  generations  acquired  and  sustain- 
ed an  honourable  reputation,  by  devotion  to  con- 
scientious principles. 

The  most  remote  maternal  ancestor  to  whom 
reference  can  be  had,  was  Arm  and  Crommelin ; 
he  lived  in  the  fifteenth  century,  and  suffered 
so  severely  for  his  religious  opinions,  by  the  per- 
secutions of  that  period,  as  to  be  induced  to  re- 
tire from  his  native  place  in  Holland,  and  take 
up  his  abode  at  Courteray,  a  town  of  the  Austrian 
Netherlands.  Of  the  numerous  descendants  from 
Crommelin,  one  of  them,  of  the  fifth  generation, 
was  married  to  John  Benezet,  of  Clavison  in  Lan- 
guedoc,  whose  life  terminated  in  the  year  1690. 


He  left  seven  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  was 
John  Stephen,  the  father  of  the  philanthropist. 

An  ancient  family  record,  which  has  survived 
the  vicissitudes  of  more  than  a  century,  exhi- 
bits evidence  of  the  religious  character  of  the 
paternal  predecessors  of  Anthony  Benezet.  The 
nativities,  marriages  and  deaths  noted  in  it,  are 
uniformly  accompanied  with  sentiments  of  piety. 
Connected  with  the  register  of  his  grandfather's 
demise,  the  event  is  said  to  be  "  to  tlie  great  afflic- 
tion of  his  children,  and  tlie  universal  regret  of 
his  relations  and  friends,  for  he  was  a  model  of 
virtue  and  purity,  and  lived  in  the  constant  fear 
of  God  f  attached  to  the  birth  note  of  his  grand- 
son Anthony,  the  Divine  favour  is  thus  implor- 
ed for  the  infant's  preservation  and  happiness, 
«  may  God  hless  Mm,  in  making  him  a  partaker 
of  his  mercies."  Though  virtue  be  not  heredita- 
ry, it  must  be  admitted  that  example  is  powerful. 

Anthony  Benezet,  was  born  at  St.  Quint  in, 
in  France,  on  the  thirty-first  day  of  the  Eleventh 
Month  (January)  Anno  Domini  1713.  O.  S.  His 
parents  were  among  the  most  noted  and  wealthy 
persons  of  that  time.  They  associated  themselves 
~vitli  those  protestants  who  had  been  contemptu- 


ously  denominated  Huguenots  on  the  revocation 
of  the  edict  of  Nantz,  and  who  became  obnoxious 
to  the  unparalleled  fury  of  Romish  bigotry  du- 
ring the  reign  of  Lewis  XIV.  John  Stephen 
Benezet  suffered  as  severely  as  any  of  his  an- 
cestors for  a  faithful  attachment  to  his  religious 
opinions.  His  estate  on  this  account  was  confis- 
cated in  1715,  when  he  withdrew  from  his  native 
country,  and  sought  refuge  in  Holland. 

At  this  time  his  son  Anthony  was  an  infant,  a 
circumstance  which  no  doubt  greatly  increased 
the  solicitude  of  his  parents,  whose  afflictions 
must  have  been  almost  insupportable,  and  whose 
flight  was  extremely  perilous.  It  was  natural  for 
the  protector  of  a  family  situated  as  he  was,  to 
resort  to  any  means  that  might  give  hope  of  suc- 
cess to  the  hazardous  enterprise  which  the  ur- 
gent necessity  of  exile  had  dictated ;  so  great  an 
exigency  probably  reconciled  to  the  mind  of  this 
suffering  individual,  the  method  he  adopted  to  ef- 
fect it,  though  it  offered  the  bold  alternative, 
which  w  as  to  sacrifice  either  the  life  or  the  fidel- 
ity of  the  servant  of  the  crown.  To  accomplish 
this  purpose,  he  secured  the  services  of  a  young 
man,  upon  whose  attachment  he  could  rely,  to 


4 

accompany  him  beyond  one  of  the .military  out- 
posts, which  then  skirted  the  frontier  of  France. 
"Xothing  occurred  to  interrupt  their  progress,  until 
they  approached  the  centinel ;  when  their  adventur- 
ous friend  presenting  himself  before  him,  display- 
ing in  one  hand  an  instrument  of  death,  and  ten- 
dering with  the  other  a  purse  of  money,  said, 
«  take  your  choke,  tliis  is  a  worthy  family,  Jly- 
higfrom  persecution,  and  they  shall  pass :"  the 
guard  accepted  the  gold,  and  their  escape  was 
safely  accomplished.  They  remained  a  few 
months  in  Rotterdam,  and  thence  removed  to 
London,  where  they  resided  sixteen  years,  du- 
ring which  time  John  Stephen  Benezet,  being 
engaged  in  commercial  pursuits,  was  enabled  to 
recover  in  some  degree  the  losses  he  had  sus- 
tained in  his  fortune.  Whilst  in  Great  Britain, 
Anthony  received  an  education  that  was  deem- 
ed sufficient  to  qualify  him  for  mercantile 
business,  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  which,  his 
father  placed  him  with  one  of  the  most  respecta- 
ble traders  of  the  metropolis.  In  this  situation 
he  did  not  long  continue,  declining,  from  motives 
of  a  religious  nature,  to  be  occupied  in  the  enter- 
prises of  commerce.  Having  chosen  a  mechanical 


business  he  engaged  himself  with  a  cooper,  but 
it  proved  to  be  an  employment  too  laborious  for 
Iris  youthful  and  naturally  delicate  frame. 

Of  Iiis  juvenile  habits  and  dispositions,  but  an 
imperfect  account  is  preserved  5  it  is  only  known 
that  when  about  fourteen  years  old  he  was  uni- 
ted in  membership  with  the  religious  society  of 
Friends,  called  Quakers.  Whether  the  early 
development  of  his  mind,  yielded  any  promise 
of  the  future  excellence  of  his  character,  no 
evidence  now  remains.  In  the  year  1731,  at  the 
age  of  eighteen,  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Philadelphia,  where  the  family  was  permanent- 
ly established.  His  pursuits  during  the  first  five 
years  after  his  emigration  to  Pennsylvania  can- 
not be  ascertained. 

In  1736  he  formed  a  matrimonial  union  with 
Joyce  Marriott,  a  woman  of  exemplary  piety. 
Three  years  after  his  marriage  he  removed  to 
Wilmington,  in  the  state  of  Delaware,  and  was 
there  engaged  in  a  branch  of  manufacture,  which 
neither  answering  his  expectation,  nor  suiting 
the  disposition  of  his  mind,  induced  him  to  re* 
turn  in  a  few  months  to  Philadelphia. 
B  2 


The  unsettled  state  in  which  he  appears  to 
have  been  at  this  period,  in  relation  to  his  secular 
occupations,  may  be  attributed  to  the  operation  of 
those  benevolent  principles  of  his  nature  which 
had  not  hitherto  been  brought  into  complete  ac- 
tion, as  well  as  to  the  desire  he  cherished,  that 
the  energies  of  his  mind  might  be  directed  to  the 
most  useful  and  salutary  purposes.  Thus  at  an 
age  when  the  generality  of  mankind  are  most 
concerned  to  determine  in  what  manner  they 
shall  apply  their  time  and  talents,  for  their 
own  aggrandisement,  and  are  seen  eagerly 
grasping  for  wealth,  or  panting  for  those  hon- 
ours and  that  fame  which  humanity  can  bestow, 
Anthony  Benezet  exhibits  the  rare  example  of 
a  man,  subjecting  every  selfish  and  ambitious 
passion  to  the  superior  obligations  of  religion, 
offering  himself  a  candidate  for  any  service 
which  might  contribute  to  promote  his  Creator's 
honour,  and  advance  the  happiness  of  his  fellow 
beings. 

Such  extraordinary  devotion  of  heart  could 
not  but  be  preparatory  to  the  luxuriant  growth 
of  all  those  tender  charities,  those  exalted  vir- 
tues,   and  that   distinguished  humility;  whieh 


made  up  the  plenteous,  and  rich  harvest  of  his 
life. 

In  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  he  believed 
it  to  he  most  consistent  with  his  duty  to  under- 
take the  instruction  of  youth  in  useful  learning, 
and  his  first  engagement  in  that  capacity  was  at 
Germantown,  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia : 
whilst  at  that  place,  he  also  employed  a  portion 
of  his  time  as  a  proof  reader  for  a  printer,  near 
whom  he  lived.  In  1742,  a  vacancy  occurred  in 
the  English  department  of  the  public  school, 
founded  by  charter  from  William  Penn  ;  an  in- 
stitution under  the  superintendence  of  some  of  the 
most  eminent,  pious,  and  learned  men  that  a- 
dorned  the  religious  and  civil  community  of 
Philadelphia ;  by  their  solicitation  and  encou- 
ragement, he  left  Germantown,  and  accepted  the 
office  of  a  teacher  in  that  seminary,  in  which  sta- 
tion he  continued  for  twelve  years,  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  employers* 

In  1755,  he  established  a  school  on  his  own 
account,  for  the  instruction  of  females,  and  soon 
found  himself  entrusted  with  the  education  of 
the  daughters  of  the  most  affluent  and  respecta- 
ble inhabitants  of  the  city.    To  his  amiable  and 


8 


nesting  pupils  he  was  endeared  Irvine  ex- 
ercise of  an  uncommon  degree  of  religious 
eare,  and  such  was  the  urbanity  of  his  manners, 
and  the  lenity  of  his  government,  that  the  cha- 
racter of  the  tutor  was  lost  in  an  indulgence 
more  unlimited  than  even  parental  fondness  is 
apt  to  dispense.  This  mode  of  treatment  produ- 
ced a  correspondent  respect  and  regard  from 
his  scholars,  in  whose  hearts  was  deeply  im- 
planted the  strongest  attachment  to  their  pre- 
ceptor and  friend,  which  in  those  who  have  de- 
scended to  the  grave  was  extinguished  only  with 
their  lives,  and  that  still  glowing  in  tlie  bo- 
soms of  the  few  who  survive,  can  cease  but  with 
the  termination  of  all  human  affections.  As  an 
instructor  of  youth,  as  well  as  in  every  other 
engagement  of  life,  he  appears  to  have  reflected 
and  determined  for  himself  on  the  principles 
which  were  to  control  his  conduct. 

It  is  not  therefore  surprising  that  he  should 
have  adopted  a  system  of  government  unlike  that 
which  was  then  exercised  by  those  who  were  en- 
trusted with  the  education  of  children.  The  dis- 
cipline of  schools  at  the  time  when  Benezet  began 
a  reformation,  was  of  all  systems  the  most  re- 


9 


pugnant  (o  the  plain  dictates  of  nature,  reason, 
and  Christianity.  The  individual  who  was  to 
mould  the  mind  of  a  child,  lead  it  to  the  know- 
ledge of  its  own  energies,  instil  in(o  it  ra- 
dical principles,  and  in  short  essentially  con- 
tribute to  form  the  character,  could  not  display 
his  qualifications  for  this  purpose,  nor  secure  more 
certain,  though  misapplied  patronage  and  confi- 
dence, than  by  the  assumption  of  a  demeanour,  at 
once  supercilious  and  pedantic.  To  complete  his 
attributes,  the  teacher  ruled  his  subjects  by  the 
exercise  of  punishments,  as  cruel  and  vin- 
dictive, as  might  entirely  comport  with  the  des- 
potic office  he  sustained.  The  discerning  and 
conscientious  mind  of  Benezet,  perceived  the 
injurious  tendency  of  a  system  thus  organised; 
he  saw  its  operation  was  calculated  to  produce 
in  the  minds  of  those  who  were  obnoxious  to 
its  influence,  dispositions  the  most  unhappy, 
whilst  it  must  inevitably  lessen  the  ability,  if  not 
altogether  frustrate  the  design  of  communica- 
ting information  to  youth.  With  lord  Bacon, 
he  was  convinced,  that  what  is  learned  willing- 
ly, and  at  the  proper  season,  makes  the  deep* 
est  impression,  and  that  much  depends  on  the 


10 

manner  of  conveying  lessons  of  instruction  to 
the  juvenile  understanding. 

The  plan  which  Benezet  pursued  was  there- 
fore that  of  mildness;  he  investigated  the  natu- 
ral dispositions  of  his  pupils,  and  adapted  his 
management  of  them,  to  their  various  tempers. 
Persuasion  would  secure  attention  and  obedi- 
ence in  some,  whilst  proper  excitement  to  emu- 
lation, would  animate  and  encourage  others. 
The  sense  of  shame,  and  the  fear  of  disgrace, 
could  be  roused  in  the  minds  of  those,  whose  stu- 
bornness  the  less  acute  remedies  would  not  affect, 
and  it  is  affirmed,  that  he  rarely  had  recourse 
to  corporal  punishment,  and  seldom  permitted 
an  angry  passion  to  be  exhibited  to  his  scholars. 
His  patient  and  persevering  temper  was  re- 
markably displayed  in  the  attention  he  bestowed 
upon  a  female  who  was  deaf  and  dumb.  She  ac- 
quired, during  two  years  under  his  tuition,  such 
instruction  as  enabled  her  to  enjoy  an  intercourse 
with  society,  which  had  been  previously  denied 
to  her.  And  although  his  efforts  in  this  case,  to 
organise  and  develop  ideas,  did  not  reach  the 
perfection  since  attained  in  the  admirable  scheme 
of  his  celebrated  countryman  the  Abbe  L'Epee, 


11 

lie  nevertheless  deserves  credit  for  an  attempt, 
which,  in  point  of  originality  in  Philadelphia 
(perhaps  in  America)  must  be  awarded  to  him 

When  not  immediately  engaged  in  their  studies, 
he  was  on  the  most  familiar  terms  with  his  pu- 
pils, and  regularly  assigned  a  portion  of  the 
time  usually  allotted  for  business,  to  indulging 
them  with  suitable  recreation  and  amusement, 
in  an  apartment  which  he  had  expressly  con- 
structed for  the  purpose.  So  deeply  was  his 
mind  interested  in  what  he  deemed  the  judicious 
education  of  youth,  that  for  the  promotion  of 
his  opinions  and  views,  he  compiled  two  intro- 
ductory books  for  the  use  of  schools.  His  reasons 
for  engaging  in  this  work,  as  well  as  his  senti- 
ments on  the  general  subject  of  instruction,  are 
given  in  the  following  letters  to  David  Barclay 
of  London,  and  John  Pemberton  of  Philadelphia. 


Philadelphia,  1782. 
Esteemed  Friend,  David  Barclay, 

A  good  opportunity  offering  by  our  friend  John 
Pemberton,  I  make  use  of  it,  affectionately,  to 


12 

salute  and  inform  thee,  that  I  have  with  much  sa- 
tisfaction, understood  that  the  necessary  and  pi- 
ous education  of  the  youth  has  more  particularly 
become  the  object  of  the  notice  of  Friends,  and 
that  thou  hast  been  engaged  to  interest  thyself  in 
this  important  work.  In  the  course  of  my  con- 
cern for  the  proper  instruction  and  best  welfare 
of  the  youth,  in  which  I  have  been  employed  noAv 
for  near  forty  years,  I  have  found  a  great  dis- 
advantage arising  from  the  want  of  a  spelling 
book  and  primer,  properly  adapted,  not  only 
to  bring  children  and  youth  forward  in  reading, 
hut  also  to  inculcate  proper  principles  in  them  ; 
this  led  me  to  procure  all  the  books  of  this  kind  I 
could  meet  with,  and  though  I  found  more  or 
less  good  matter  in  them  all,  yet  none  answering 
my  prospect,  I  found  myself  engaged  to  endea- 
vour the  compilation  of  a  hook  of  this  kind.  Be- 
fore publication  I  laid  my  essay  before  the  over- 
seers of  our  public  school,  who  appointed  James 
Pemberton,  Nicholas  Wain  and  others,  a  commit- 
tee to  review  my  manuscript,  making  proper 
amendments.  The  first  edition  being  sold,  a  se- 
cond of  a  larger  sort,  with  improvements  on  the 
first,  has  been  made  ;  of  this  I  send  thee  a  copy, 


13 

also  a  primer,  or  first  book,  on  the  same  plan, 
to  save  the  charges  of  the  spelling  book,  which 
young  children  are  apt  to  deface  before  they 
have  been  taught  many  pages  in  it.  The  tenden- 
cy of  this  kind  of  books  is  too  generally  little  re- 
garded by  parents  or  tutors,  provided  there  be 
what  is  judged  sufficient  of  spelling  and  other 
common  place  instruction ;  but  my  view  went 
farther,  not  only  to  make  the  spelling  more 
easy,  familiar  and  agreeable  than  is  usual,  but 
also  to  cause  the  bent  and  aim  of  all  the  lessons, 
from  the  beginning  to  the  end  to  be  such  as 
tended  to  mend  the  heart  (the  great  work  of 
Christianity)  as  well  as  convince  the  judgment, 
by  raising  in  the  tender  mind,  principles  of  com- 
passion and  tenderness,  as  well  to  the  brute 
creation,  as  to  their  fellow  men,  a  nobility  of 
mind,  and  a  love  of  virtue,  and  so  on  gradually, 
rising  higher  and  higher,  till  the  language  and 
precepts,  both  in  matter  and  language,  are  such  as 
our  best  authors  afforded.  In  the  first  edition  I  de- 
viated from  the  common  established  rules  in  the 
division  of  syllables,  rather  consulting  and  favour- 
ing the  ear,  than  keeping  to  the  common  custom ; 
but  some  of  the  schoolmasters  complaining  that 


14 

they  were  thereby  brought  under  difficulty,  as 
both  they  and  their  scholars  had  been  habituated 
to  the  common  mode  of  dividing  syllables,  I 
thought  it  best  in  the  second  edition  to  give  up  any 
attempt  of  that  kind,  and  make  use  of  the  same 
mode  of  spelling  as  was  in  Dil worth.  The  custom 
of  making  up  the  first  lessons  of  all  the  words  of 
one  syllable  I  deviated  from,  experience  having 
taught  me,  that  it  is  much  easier  to  introduce  chil- 
dren to  reading,  by  using  the  easiest  words  of  two, 
and  even  three  syllables,  such  as  ac-ti-on,  &c. 
than  hard  words  of  one  syllable  as  draught,  &e. 
I  have  added  a  short  essay  on  grammar,  com- 
piled with  great  care,  in  order  to  make  the 
grounds  of  that  necessary  foundation  of  know- 
ledge in  our  mother  tongue,  more  clear  and  easy 
than  the  compilations  of  that  kind  generally 
are,  most  of  which  by  introducing  parts  of  the  La- 
tin grammar  which  are  of  no  use  in  our  language, 
run  into  many  useless  words,  and  are  difficult  to 
be  understood  both  by  pupils  and  tutors  of  dull 
capacities;  this  essay,  though  short,  will  I  believe 
be  found  sufficient  to  give  them  such  a  general 
idea  of  English  grammar  as  to  understand  the 
reason  of  what  is    proposed   and  express  them- 


15 

selves  with  a  good  degree  of  correctness  where 
they  have  no  other  help,  as  well  as  fit  them  for 
understanding  such  larger  works  as  may  fall  in 
their  way.  I  should  he  well  pleased  to  under- 
stand thou  and  other  Friends  would  so  far  co- 
operate w  ith  my  concern,  which  indeed  is  weigh- 
ty with  me,  as  to  give  this  spelling  hook  a  seri- 
ous perusal,  and  if  it  should  meet  with  appro- 
bation, might  be  republished  with  such  amend- 
ments and  additions  as  may  appear  necessary. 
I  trust  this  desire  does  not  arise  from  any  part 
I  have  had  in  it,  but  from  a  persuasion  founded 
on  long  experience,  and  the  evidence  of  others, 
that  this  book,  or  one  of  the  same  kind,  may  be 
of  special  service,  not  only  in  making  the  in- 
struction of  children  more  easy,  but  in  necessari- 
ly laying  before  both  tutors,  pupils  and  others, 
where  it  may  come,  such  leading  principles  on 
matters  of  the  greatest  weight,  as  may  be  in- 
structive and  edifying  to  them.  The  advantage 
of  endeavouring  to  promote  the  education  of  our 
youth,  on  its  right  basis,  viz.  a  true  estimate  of 
human  life,  and  the  amendment  of  the  heart, 
whence  obedience  and  love  to  God,  benignity  to 
men,  and  a  tender  regard  for  the  whole  creation 


16 

would  necessarily  flow,  must  be  obvious  to  every 
feeling  mind ;  as  also  giving  them  as  easy  and 
compendious  a  knowledge  of  their  own  language, 
and  such  other  useful  parts  of  learning,  as  their 
respective  situations  may  make  necessary,  to  an- 
answer  all  the  good  purposes  of  life. 

ANTHONY  BENEZET. 


Philadelphia,  Fifth  Month,  29th,  1783. 
"Dear  Friend,  John  Pembertost, 

###########  With  respect  to  the 
education  of  our  youth,  I  would  propose,  as  the 
fruit  of  forty  years  experience,  that  when  they 
are  proficients  in  the  use  of  their  pen,  and  become 
sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  English  gram- 
mar, and  the  useful  parts  of  arithmetic,  they 
should  be  taught  mensuration  of  superficies  and 
solids,  as  it  helps  the  mind  in  many  necessary  mat- 
ters, particularly  the  use  of  the  scale  and  compass; 
and  will  open  the  way  for  those  parts  of  the 
mathematics,  which  their  peculiar  situations  may 
afterwards  make  necessary.     It  would  also  be 


17 

profitable  for  every  scholar  of  both  sexes  to  go 
through  and  understand  a  short  but  very  plain 
set  of  merchants'  accounts  in  single  entry,  par- 
ticularly adapted  to  the  civil  uses  of  life.  And 
in  order  to  perfect  their  education  in  a  useful  and 
agreeable  way,  both  to  themselves  and  others,  I 
would  propose  to  give  them  a  general  knowledge 
of  the  mechanical  powers,  geography,  and  the 
elements  of  astronomy ;  the  use  of  the  microscope 
might  also  be  profitably  added,  in  discovering  the 
minute  parts  of  the  creation;  this,  with  the  know- 
ledge of  the  magnitude  and  courses  of  those  migh- 
ty bodies  which  surround  us,  would  tend  to  exalt 
their  ideas.  Such  parts  of  history  as  may  tend 
to  give  them  a  right  idea  of  the  corruption  of  the 
human  heart,  the  dreadful  nature  and  effects  of 
war,  the  advantage  of  virtue,  &c.  are  also  neces- 
sary parts  of  an  education  founded  upon  christian 
and  reasonable  principles.  These  several  instruc- 
tions should  be  inculcated  on  a  religious  plan,  in 
such  a  way  as  may  prove  a  delightful,  rather  than 
a  painful  labour,  both  to  teachers  and  pupils.  It 
might  also  be  profitable  to  give  lads  of  bright 
genius  some  plain  lectures  upon  anatomy,  the 
wondrous  frame  of  man,  deducing  therefrom 
c  %  ' 


18 

the  advantage  of  a  plain  simple  May  of  life  ;  en- 
forcing upon  their  understanding,  the  kind  efforts 
of  nature  to  maintain  the  human  frame  in  a  state 
of  health  with  little  medical  help,  hut  what  ab- 
stinence and  exercise  will  afford.  These  neces- 
sary parts  of  knowledge  so  useful  in  directing 
the  youthful  mind  in  the  path  of  virtue  and  wis- 
dom, might  be  proposed  by  way  of  lectures,  which 
the  pupil  should  write  down,  and  when  corrected 
should  be  copied  in  a  neat  bound  book  to  be  kept 
for  future  perusal.*      ######•#» 


Such  were  the  motives  which  influenced  the 
conduct  of  this  excellent  man,  in  an  occupation 
which  was  pursued  for  subsistence;  affording  the 
bright  example  too  seldom  imitated,  of  making 
worldly  concerns  subservient  to  the  noblest  du- 
ties, and  the  most  extensive  goodness.  If  an 
estimate  of  his  worth  were  to  be  formed  by  a  re- 
ference to  the  services  which  he  rendered  as  an 
instructer  of  youth,  they  would  be  found  to  have 
entitled  him  to  the  distinguished  consideration, 
respect    and    gratitude   of  future  generations 


19 


But  this  appropriation  of  his  time,  forms  only 
one  of  the   numerous  engagements  of  his  be- 
nevolent  and  laborious  life.     lie  looked  upon  the 
globe  as  his  country,  and  considered  all  mankind 
as  his  brethren.     With  such  enlightened  and  un- 
bounded philanthropy,  it  was  to  be  expected  that 
the  degraded  and  suffering  condition  of  the  ne- 
groes, would  occupy  a  large  share  of  his  notice 
and  sympathy.     About  the  year  1750,  it  began 
to  be  observed  that  his  feelings  were  deeply  af- 
fected with  the  iniquity  of  the  slave  trade,  the  un- 
lawfulness of  carrying  negroes  into  captivity,  and 
the  cruelty  which  was  exercised  by  those  who 
purchased  and  employed  them.     The  impulses  of 
duty,  then  for  the  first  time,  brought  him  from  the 
retirement  of  private  life  before  the  world,  to 
lift  up  his  voice  in  behalf  of  an  oppressed  and 
wretched   portion   of  his   fellow   beings;    per- 
haps no  man  in  any  age,  or  in  any  country  could 
have  been  better  adapted  to  the  great  office  of  an 
advocate  for  the  violated  rights  of  a  people  than 
Anthony  Benezet,  by  his  peculiar  capacity  for 
being  profoundly  sensible  of  their  wrongs.     And 
when  the  astonishing  effects  of  his  labours  in  this 
work  of  mercy  are  reviewed,  no  doubt  can  rest 


20 


upon  the  mind,  that  his  commission  to  "plead  the 
came  of  the  oppressed,"  proceeded  from  on  high. 
Among  the  earliest  proofs  of  his  compassion  to- 
ward the  African  race,  were  the  practical  exer- 
tions which  he  employed  for  the  promotion  of 
their  welfare.  In  Philadelphia,  the  number  of 
these  objects  of  his  regard  was  considerable,  and 
lie  adopted  the  most  rational  course  which  could 
have  been  devised  for  their  benefit,  by  the  estab- 
lishment of  an  evening  school,  which  he  taught 
gratuitously  him  self. #  And  when  a  more  en- 
larged plan  of  this  nature  was  determined  upon 
by  his  brethren  in  religious  profession,  he  con- 
tributed liberally  from  his  own  limited  income, 
and  was  indefatigable  in  soliciting  donations  from 
his  opulent  fellow  members  in  aid  of  a  fund  for 
tha  erection  of  a  building  to  accommodate,  and 
toward  the  support  of  a  school  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  black  people.  In  this  charitable  work  he 
was  successful  beyond  his  own  expectation,  for 

♦Dr.  Wilson,  late  rector  of  SL  Stephens,  Walbrook,  Eng- 
land, a  short  time  before  his  decease,  sent  fifty  pounds  ster- 
ling to  him,  to  be  applied  to  the  support  of  this  school,  in- 
tending to  have  doubled  the  benefaction  ;  but  he  died  before 
he  effected  his  benevolent  purpose. 


St 

the  proficiency  of  his  pupils  in  the  rudiments  of 
learning,  added  to  the  moral  and  religious  ad- 
vancement of  many  of  them  under  his  pious  care, 
powerfully  contributed  to  recommend  their  race 
to  the  notice,  and  the  cause  of  their  sufferings  to 
the  investigation  of  many  persons  of  influence, 
who  had  previously  held  both  in  contempt. 

Among  other  important  facts  concerning  the 
dispositions  and  mental  capacities  of  the  negroes, 
which  his  intercourse  with  them  as  a  teacher, 
had  afforded  him  the  best  opportunity  to  estab- 
lish, was,  that  they  possessed  intellectual  powers 
by  no  means  inferior  to  any  other  portion  of  man- 
kind. His  opinion  on  this  interesting  point  is  en- 
titled to  the  highest  consideration,  not  only  be- 
cause it  vindicates  those  attributes  of  the  deity, 
which  religion  and  reason  conspire  reverently  to 
acknowledge,  but  being  a  determination  of  the 
judgment  upon  practical  examination,  it  ought  to 
be  regarded,  as  a  solemn  and  unanswerable  pro- 
test against  the  subtle  sophistry,  degrading  ava- 
rice and  refined  cruelty,  by  whose  unholy  league 
attempts  have  been  made  to  prove  that  a  sable 
skin  cannot  envelope  a  rational  creature  ! 


"  I  can  (said  Benezet)  with  truth  and  sinceri- 
ty declare,  that  I  have  found  amongst  the  ne- 
groes as  great  variety  of  talents,  as  among  a  like 
number  of  whites,  and  I  am  bold  to  assert,  that 
the  notion  entertained  by  some,  that  the  blacks  are 
inferior  in  their  capacities,  is  a  vulgar  prejudice, 
founded  on  the  pride  or  ignorance  of  their  lordly 
masters,  who  have  kept  their  slaves  at  such  a  dis- 
tance as  to  be  unable  to  form  a  right  judgment 
of  them." 

Having  thus  judiciously  awakened  observation 
and  reflection  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  some  mea- 
sure removed  the  unjustifiable  prejudices  which 
were  entertained  against  the  negroes,  he  was  pre- 
pared to  make  an  appeal  in  their  behalf  to  the 
justice  and  clemency  of  communities  and  na- 
tions. His  first  attempts  to  enlighten  the  public 
mind  were  made  by  composing  and  circulating 
through  the  medium  of  almanacs,  and  the  news- 
papers of  the  day,  detached  pieces  concerning  the 
unlawfulness  of  slavery,  after  which  he  also  wrote 
and  published  several  essays  on  the  subject  of 
the  slave  trade ;  representing  in  a  forcible  and 
affecting  manner  the  crimes  which  it  begot,  the 


23 

miseries  which  it  inflicted,  and  the  awful  con- 
sequences it  must  inevitably  produce. 

The  largest  and  most  important  works  in  this 
department  of  his  authorship  were  entitled, 

First.  «  An  account  of  that  part  of  Africa 
inhabited  by  the  negroes."  ±762. 

Second.  «  A  caution  and  warning  to  Great 
Britain  and  her  colonies,  on  the  calamitous  state 
of  the  enslaved  negroes."  1767. 

Third.  "  An  historical  account  of  Guinea,  Us 
situation,  produce,  and  the  general  disposition  of 
its  inhabitants  ;  with  an  inquiry  into  the  rise  and 
progress  of  the  slave  trade,  its  nature  and  calami- 
tous effects.99^ 

§  The  influence  of  this  work,  in  giving1  an  impulse  to  the 
mind  of  the  indefatigable  and  benevolent  Thomas  Clarkson, 
whose  exertions  contributed  so  much  toward  bringing  about 
the  abolition  of  the  slave  trade*  by  the  British  Parliament,  is 


*  Notwithstanding  the  governments  of  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain,  have  by  law  forbidden  the  commerce  in  hu- 
man beings,  there  is  cause  for  believing  that  the  slave  trade 
is  still  surreptitiously  carried  on  by  some  of  the  citizens  of 
both  countries,  undercover  of  foreign  flags.  When  we  reflect 


24 

These  were  printed  at  his  own  expense,  and 
the  following  is  a  circular  letter  which  accom- 
panied the  distribution  of  his  books.     It  is  thus 

certainly  remarkable.  In  the  year  1785,  Dr.  Peckard,  vice- 
chancellor  of  the  university  of  Cambridge,  proposed  the  fol- 
lowing question  for  a  Latin  dissertation,  to  the  senior  bache- 
lors of  arts,  of  whom  Clarkson  was  one,  viz  :  Anne  liceat 
invitos  in  servitutem  dare  ?\  Having  in  the  former  year  gain- 
ed a  prize  for  the  best  Latin  dissertation,  he  resolved  to  en- 
deavour to  maintain  the  classical  reputation  he  had  acquired 
by  applying  himself  to  the  subject,  but  it  was  one  with  which 
he  was  by  no  means  familiar,  and  he  was  at  a  loss  what  authors 
to  consult  respecting  it,  "  -when  goi?ig  by  accident  (says  he) 
into  a  friend9 s  house,  I  took  up  a  newspaper,  then  lying  on  the 
table  ;  one  of  the  articles  -which  attracted  my  notice,  -was  an  ad' 
vertisement  of  Anthony  Benezefs  historical  account  of  Guinea. 
I  soon  left  my  friend  and  his  paper,  and  to  lose  no  time,  hastened 
to  London  to  buy  it.  In  this  precious  book  I  found  almost  all  I 
-wanted"  \    The  information  furnished  by  Benezet's  book  en- 

upon  such  violations  of  civil  and  sacfed  prohibition,  and  are 
at  the  same  moment  aware  that  the  horrid  practice  of  kidnap- 
ping free  negroes,  is  pursued  in  some  of  the  states  of  our  uni- 
on, and  also  recollect,  that  more  than  a  million  of  slaves  are 
owned  within  its  jurisdiction,  famed  as  is  the  empire  of  the 
west  for  rational  liberty  and  equal  laws,  the  understanding 
revolts,  and  the  feeling  mind  sickens  at  the  consideration. 

I  Is  it  right  to  make  slaves  of  others  against  their  will  ? 

*  Vide  Clarkson's  history  of  the  abolition  of  the  slave 
trade. 


S5 

noticed  by  him  in  the  manuscript  Yolume  from 
which  it  is  extracted. 

"  Copy  of  the  substance  of  a  letter  written  to 
several  persons  of  note,  both  in  Europe  and 
America,  on  sending  them  some  of  the  negroe 
pamphlets,  viz.  account  of  Africa,  &c.  particu- 
larly to  the  archbishop  op  Canterbury,  dated 
about  the  year  1758,  and  since. 

"  "With  the  best  respects  I  am  capable  of,  and 
from,  I  trust,  no  other  motive  but  that  of  love  to 
mankind ;  and  from  a  persuasion  of  thy  sincere 
desires  for  the  suppression  of  evil  and  the  promo- 
tion of  that  righteousness  which  alone  cxalteth 
a  nation,  I  make  bold  aifectionately  to  salute 
thee,  and  to  request  a  little  of  thy  attention  to  a 
subject  which  has  long  been  matter  of  deep  con- 
cern to  many,  vast  many,  well  disposed  people 
of  all  denominations  in  these  parts,  viz.  that 
of  the  negroe  trade,  the  purchase  and  bringing 
the  poor  negroes  from  their  native  land,  and  sub- 
jecting them  to  a  state  of  perpetual  bondage, 

couraged  him  to  complete  his  essay,  which  was  rewarded  with 
the  first  prize,  and  from  that  moment  Clark  son's  mind  be- 
came interested  with  the  great  subject  of  the  abolition  ! 
D 


26 

the  most  cruel  and  oppressive,  in  which  the  Eng- 
lish nation  is  so  deeply  engaged,  and  which 
with  additional  sorrow  we  observe  to  be  greatly 
increasing  in  their  northern  colonies,  and  likely 
still  more  to  increase  by  the  acquisition  the  Eng- 
lish have  lately  made  of  the  factories  on  the  ri- 
ver Senegal.  I  herewith  send  thee  some  small 
treatises  lately  published  here  on  that  subject, 
wherein  are  truly  set  forth  the  great  inhumanity 
and  wickedness  which  this  trade  gives  life  to, 
whereby  hundreds  of  thousands  of  our  fellow 
creatures,  equally  with  us  the  objects  of  Christ's 
redeeming  grace,  and  as  free  as  we  are  by  na- 
ture, are  kept  under  the  worst  oppression,  and 
many  of  them  yearly  brought  to  a  miserable  and 
untimely  end. 

I  make  bold  earnestly  to  entreat,  that  thou 
wouldst  be  pleased  seriously  to  read  them,  when 
I  doubt  not  thou  wilt  perceive  it  to  be  a  matter 
which  calls  for  the  most  deep  consideration  of 
all  who  are  concerned  for  the  civil,  as  well  as  re- 
ligious welfare  of  their  country,  and  who  are  de- 
sirous to  avert  those  judgments,  which  evils  of 
such  a  dye  must  necessarily  sooner  or  later 
bring  upon  every  people  who  are  defiled  there- 


S7 

with,  and  will,  I  trust,  plead  my  excuse  for  the 
freedom  I  take  in  thus  addressing  myself  to  thee. 
How  an  evil  of  so  deep  a  dye,  has  so  long,  not 
only  passed  unnoticed,  but  has  even  had  the 
countenance  of  the  government,  and  been  sup- 
ported by  law,  is  surprising ;  it  must  be  because 
many  worthy  men  in  power,  both  of  the  laity 
and  clergy,  have  been  unacquainted  with  the  hor- 
rible wickedness  with  which  the  trade  is  carried 
on,  the  corrupt  motives  which  give  life  to  it,  and 
the  groans,  the  numberless  dying  groans,  which 
daily  ascend  to  God,  the  common  father  of  man- 
kind, from  the  broken  hearts  of  those  our  deep- 
ly oppressed  fellow  creatures. 

ANTHONY  BENEZET. 


The  circulation  of  his  writings  among  men  of 
eminence  in  different  parts  of  the  world,  was  pro- 
ductive of  the  happiest  effects,  by  exciting  them 
to  a  consideration  of  the  outrages  and  corrup- 
tions attendant  on  the  slave  trade  and  slavery. 
It  was  the  means  also,  of  introducing  him,  and 


28 

the  knowledge  of  his  exertions,  to  some  of  the 
most  efficient  philanthropists  in  Europe  and 
America,  whose  kindred  minds  were  soon  pre- 
pared to  unite  in  the  mighty  struggle  for  rid- 
ding both  hemispheres  of  such  pollution.  As 
he  travelled  forward,  with  steady  and  untiring 
step,  in  this  momentous  concern,  his  mind  be- 
came so  thoroughly  absorbed  with  the  intricate 
and  various  relations  and  views  which  it  involv- 
ed, as  to  induce  him  to  give  up  his  school,  in  the 
year  1766,  and  remove  to  the  city  of  Burlington, 
in  New  Jersey,  where  he  might  more  entirely 
apply  himself  to  that  and  other  objects,  intend- 
ed to  promote  the  best  interests  of  his  fellow 
creatures.  As  may  be  supposed,  he  availed  him- 
self of  all  the  advantages  which  this  retirement 
afforded,  but  the  situation  was  one  not  alto- 
gether suited  to  his  active  disposition;  and  in 
the  succeeding  year  he  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
and  resumed  nis  former  employment  of  school 
keeping. 

With  the  progress  of  life,  his  zeal  and  assidui- 
ty for  effecting  the  abolition  of  the  slave  trade, 
increased :  no  exertion  was  too  great,  nor  any 
service  toe  minute  for  him  to  undertake,  if  he 


29 

supposed  it  might  help  onward  the  righteous 
march  of  justice  and  mercy.  Consequently,  it 
was  characteristic,  if  one  day  he  were  seen  sur- 
rounded by  the  sable  children  of  Africa,  impart- 
ing advice,  and  deriving  information  from  them 
concerning  the  cruelties  they  had  suffered,  and 
the  next  engaged  in  composing  essays  on  the 
subject;  addressing  letters  to  friends  and  stran- 
gers, from  whom  he  hoped  some  aid  could  be 
obtained ;  or  with  an  innocent  boldness  worthy 
of  his  office,  spreading  the  cause  of  the  poor 
negroe  in  the  language  of  warning  and  persua- 
sion, before  statesmen  and  sovereigns. 

The  following  letters  will  develope  some  of 
his  opinions  relative  to  the  traffic  in  human  flesh, 
and  the  means  he  employed  to  promote  its  over- 
throw, as  well  as  the  notice  which  was  taken  of 
his  efforts. 


Philadelphia,  Fourth  Month,  28th,  1773. 
"Doctor  John  Fothergill, 

Thy  kind  letter  of  the  twenty-eighth  of  Eighth 
Month  last,  I  received  in  due  time,  and  gratefully 
acknowledge  thy  kind  sympathy  therein  expressed, 
D  % 


30 

I  am  likeminded  with  thee,  with  respect  to  the 
danger  and  difficulty  which  would  attend  a  sud- 
den manumission  of  those  negroes  now  in  the 
southern  colonies,  as  well  to  themselves,  as  to  the 
whites;  wherefore  except  in  particular  eases 
the  obtaining  their  freedom,  and  indeed  the  free- 
dom of  many  even  amongst  us,  is  by  no  means 
the  present  object  of  my  concern.  But  the  best 
endeavours  in  our  power  to  draw  the  notice  of 
governments,  upon  the  grievous  iniquity  and  great 
danger  attendant  on  a  further  prosecution  of  the 
slave  trade,  is  what  every  truly  sympathising 
mind  cannot  but  earnestly  desire,  and  under 
divine  direction  promote  to  the  utmost  of  their 
power.  If  this  could  be  obtained,  I  trust  the 
sufferings  of  those  already  ^amongst  us,  by  the 
interposition  of  the  government,  and  even  from 
selfish  ends  in  their  masters,  would  be  mitigated, 
and  in  time  Providence  would  gradually  work 
for  the  release  of  those,  whose  age  and  situation 
would  fit  them  for  freedom.  The  settlements 
now  in  prospect  to  be  made  in  that  large  extent 
of  country,  from  the  west  side  of  the  Allegany 
mountains  to  the  Mississippi,  on  a  breadth  of 
four  or  fiye  hundred  miles,  would  afford  a  suita- 


31 

ble  and  beneficial  means  of  settlement  for  many 
of  them  among  the  white  people,  which  would 
in  all  probability  be  as  profitable  to  the  negroes 
as  to  the  new  settlers.  But  I  do  not  desire  to 
take  up  thy  time  especially  with  matters  of  so 
remote  a  nature,  it  being  indeed  with  reluctance 
I  take  up  any  of  it,  which  I  would  have  avoided, 
was  there  any  person  to  whom  I  could  have  ad- 
dressed myself  with  the  same  expectation,  that 
what  I  have  in  view  would  be  thereby  answered. 
An  address  has  been  presentetl  to  our  assembly, 
desiring  it  would  use  its  utmost  endeavours  with 
the  king  and  parliament,  that  an  end  may  be  put 
to  the  slave  trade,  by  laying  a  duty  of  twenty 
pounds  on  all  slaves  imported.  It  was  thought 
necessary  that  some  friends  with  you  should  be 
acquainted  with  the  further  steps  that  had  been, 
or  were  likely  to  be  taken,  so  as  to  enable  you  to 
speak  in  support  of  the  law,  if  necessary  :  to  which 
end  I  herewith  send  thee  a  copy  of  the  address, 
also  a  copy  of  what  I  now  write  to  our  agent,  Ben- 
jamin Franklin,  on  that  head,  in  order  to  make 
him  acquainted  with  what  passes  here  on  this 
momentous  concern. 

I  have  also  enclosed  a  number  of  copies  of  a 
pamphlet  wrote  at  the  time  we  presented  the  pe- 


33 

dtion,  in  order  to  lay  the  Weight  of  the  matter 
briefly  before  the  members  of  the  assembly,  and 
other  active  members  of  government  in  this  and 
the  neighbouring  provinces.  It  was  written  by 
Benjamin  Rush,  a  young  physician  of  the  Pres- 
byterian communion,  a  person  who  I  understand 
thou  was  acquainted  with,  when  pursuing  his 
studies  three  or  four  years  past  with  you.  I  al- 
so send  a  small  collection  of  religious  tracts, 
chiefly  compiled  for  the  use  of  inquiring  people 
in  our  back  countries,  where  such  books  are 
much  wanted.  I  endeavoured  so  to  collect  them 
as  to  be  plain,  instructive  and  edifying,  without 
touching  upon  that  which  might  be  occasion  of 
fruitless  debate. 

ANTHONY  BENEZET. 


Philadelphia,  Fourth  Month,  17J5. 
Granville  Sharp, 

I  wrote  thee  at  large,  by  a  vessel  for  Ireland, 
about  six  weeks  past,  and  also  three  weeks  ago 
by  the  packet  from  New  York,  respecting  the 
steps  taken,  and  likely  to  be  pursued  in  the  seve- 


33 

ral  more  northern  provinces,  in  relation  to  the 
slave  trade.  I  am  glad  to  understand  from  my 
friend  Benjamin  Franklin,  that  you  have  com- 
menced an  acquaintance,  and  that  he  expects  in 
future,  to  act  in  concert  with  thee  in  the  affair 
of  slavery,  I  herewith  send  thee  some  pam- 
phlets, and  in  a  confidence  of  thy  goodness  of 
heart,  which  by  looking  to  the  intention,  will 
construe  the  freedom  I  have  taken  in  the  best 
%ht, 

I  remain  with  love, 

ANTHONY  BENEZET. 


Philadelphia,  Seventh  Month,  16th,  1781. 
My  Friend  Abbe  Raynal, 

From  the  idea  which  I  eonceived  of  the  justice, 
and  generosity  of  thy  sentiments,  I  took  th*  liher- 
ty  of  writing  to  thee  about  seven  or  eight  months 
past  under  cover  of  my  friend  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin, and  likewise  by  J  B  ,  who  we  are 
afraid  was  lost  on  his  passage.  Having  received 
no  answer  by  several  vessels,  nor  knowing 
whether  my  letters  reached  thee,  or  whether 


34< 

thine  miscarried,  and  a  good  opportunity  offer- 
ing by  my  friend  Dr.  Griffitts,  I  now  seize  it  to 
send  thee  two  copies  of  a  small  extract  of  origin 
and  principles  of  my  brethren  the  Quakers, 
whom  I  observe  in  such  of  thy  writings  as  hare 
eome  to  our  hands,  thou  didst  not  think  unwor- 
thy of  thy  attention.  I  have  nothing  to  add  to 
what  I  have  already  wrote  thee,  but  shall  repeat 
my  wish  of  saluting  thee  affectionately  on  the 
principles  of  reason  and  humanity,  which  consti- 
tutes that  grand  circle  of  love  and  charity,  uncon- 
fined  by  our  parentage  or  country,  but  which  af- 
fectionately embraces  the  whole  creation,  ear- 
nestly desiring  to  the  utmost  of  my  abilities  to 
promote  the  happiness  of  all  men,  even  of  my  ene- 
mies  themselves,  could  I  have  any.  I  beseech 
God  to  give  thee  strength  that  thou  mayest  con- 
tinue to  hold  up  to  mankind,  thy  brethren,  prin- 
ciples tending  to  replenish  their  hearts  with 
goodness,  friendship  and  charity  towards  each 
other,  that  thus  thou  mayest,  to  the  utmost  of 
thy  power,  render  men  reasonable,  useful,  and 
consequently  happy;  and  more  especially  that 
thou  mayest  combat  that  false  principle  of  ho- 
nour, or  rather  of  intolerable  pride  and  folly, 


35 

which  so  strongly  prevails  in  our  nation,  where 
the  most  indolent,  and  the  least  useful,  fancy 
themselves,  and  are  reputed  the  most  noble.  Let 
us  endeavour  to  make  them  sensible  that  men  are 
noble,  but  in  an  exact  proportion  with  their 
being  rational.  The  happiness  which  is  to  be 
found  in  virtue  alone,  is  sought  for  by  men 
through  the  titles  acquired  by  their  fathers  for 
their  activity  in  those  wars  which  have  desolated 
the  world,  or  in  the  wealth  accumulated  by  their 
ancestors;  both  means  generally  unjust  and  op- 
pressive, and  consequently  rather  sources  of 
shame  and  humiliation.  For  as  the  Chinese 
philosopher  well  observes,  "there  is  scarcely 
one  rieh  man  out  of  an  hundred,  who  was  not 
himself  an  oppressor,  or  the  sow  of  an  oppress 
sor." 

Let  us  display  to  princes,  and  the  rulers  of  na- 
tions, the  example  of  Numa  Pompilius,  who,  by 
a  conduct  opposite  to  that  of  Romulus,  his  prede- 
cessor, and  most  of  his  successors,  rendered  the 
Romans,  during  his  long  reign,  so  respectable 
and  happy.  Above  all,  my  dear  friend,  let  us 
represent  to  our  compatriots  the  abominable  ini- 
quity of  the  Guinea  trade.    Let  us  put  to  the 


36 

blush  the  pretended  disciples  of  the  benign  Sa- 
viour of  the  world,  for  the  encouragement  given 
to  the  unhappy  Africans  in  invading  the  liberty 
of  their  own  brethren.  Let  us  rise,  and  rise  with 
energy  against  the  corruption  introduced  into 
the  principles  and  manners  of  the  masters  and 
owners  of  slaves,  by  a  conduct  so  contrary  to  hu- 
manity, reason,  and  religion.  Let  us  be  still 
more  vehement  in  representing  its  baneful  in- 
fluence on  the  principles  and  manners  of  their 
wretched  offspring,  necessarily  educated  in  idle- 
ness, pride,  and  all  the  vices  to  which  human  na- 
ture is  liable. 

How  desirable  is  it  that  Lewis  the  Sixteenth, 
whose  virtues,  and  good  disposition  have  been  so 
nobly  praised,  would  set  an  example  to  the  other 
potentates  of  Europe,  by  forbidding  his  subjects 
to  be  concerned  in  a  traffic  so  evil  in  itself,  and 
so  corrupting  in  its  consequences ;  and  that  he 
would  also  issue  out  ordinances  in  favour  of  such 
of  the  negroes,  who  are  now  slaves  in  his  do- 
minions. Alas  !  should  Christianity,  that  law  of 
lov£  and  charity,  work  its  proper  effect  on  the 
hearts  of  its  pretended  disciples,  we  should  see 
numbers  of  christians  traverse  Africa,  and  both 


37 

ike  Indies,  not  to  pollute  themselves  with  slave- 
ry and  slaughter,  nor  to  accumulate  wealth, 
the  supreme  wish  of  the  present  nominal  chris- 
tians, but  that  divine  love  would  impel  them  to 
visit  remote  regions  in  order  to  make  the  inhabi- 
tants acquainted  with  the  corruption  of  the  hu- 
man heart,  and  invite  them  to  seek  for  the  in- 
fluence of  that  grace  proposed  by  the  gospel, 
by  which  they  may  obtain  salvation.  I  am  un- 
der the  necessity  of  concluding  hastily,  request- 
ing thou  wouldst  excuse  faults,  which  time 
does  not  allow  me  to  correct,  and  to  write  to  me 
by  various  opportunities,  the  vessels  bound  to 
these  parts  often  missing  their  destination. 

I  am  affectionately  thy  friend, 

ANTHONY  BENEZET. 


To  this  energetic  and  impassioned  epistle,  the 
abbe  made  the  following  answer. 


88 

Bruxelles,  December  26, 1781. 
All  your  letters  have  miscarried ;  happily  I 
received  that  of  the  sixteenth  of  July,  1781,  with 
the  pamphlets  filled  with  light  and  sensibility, 
which  accompany  it.  Never  was  any  present 
more  agreeable  to  me.  My  satisfaction  was 
equal  to  the  respect  I  have  always  had  for  the 
society  of  the  Quakers.  May  it  please  Hea- 
ven to  cause  all  nations  to  adopt  their  principles ; 
men  would  then  be  happy,  and  the  globe  not 
stained  with  blood.  Let  us  join  in  our  supplica- 
tions to  the  supreme  Being,  that  He  may  unite  us 
in  the  bonds  of  a  tender  and  unalterable  charity. 

I  am,  &c. 

RAYNAL. 


To  Charlotte,  queen  of  Great  Britain. 

Impressed  with  a  sense  of  religious  duty,  and 
encouraged  by  the  opinion  generally  entertained 
of  thy  benevolent  disposition  to  succour  the  dis- 
tressed, I  take  the  liberty,  very  respectfully,  to 
offer  to  thy  perusal  some  tracts  which  I  believe 


39 

faithfully  describe  the  suffering  condition  of  ma- 
ny hundred  thousands  of  our  fellow  creatures  of 
the  African  race,  great  numbers  of  whom,  rent 
from  every  tender  connexion  in  life*  are  annually 
taken  from  their  native  land,  to  endure,  in  the 
American  islands  and  plantations,  a  most  rigor- 
ous and  cruel  slavery,  whereby  many,  very  ma- 
ny of  them,  are  brought  to  a  melancholy  and  un- 
timely end.  When  it  is  considered,  that  the  in- 
habitants of  Britain,  who  are  themselves  so  emi- 
nently blessed  in  the  enjoyment  of  religious  and 
civil  liberty,  have  long  been,  and  yet  are,  very 
deeply  concerned  in  this  flagrant  violation  of  the 
common  rights  of  mankind,  and  that  even  its 
national  authority  is  exerted  in  support  of  the 
African  slave  trade,  there  is  much  reason  to  ap- 
prehend that  this  has  been,  and  as  long  as  the 
evil  exists,  will  continue  to  be,  an  occasion  of 
drawing  down  the  Divine  displeasure  on  the  na- 
tion and  its  dependencies.  May  these  considera- 
tions induce  thee  to  interpose  thy  kind  endeav- 
ours on  behalf  of  this  greatly  oppressed  people, 
whose  abject  situation  gives  them  an  additional 
«laim  to  the  pity  and  assistance  of  the  generous 
mind,  inasmuch  as  they  are  altogether  deprived 


40 

of  the  means  of  soliciting  effectual  relief  for 
themselves.  That  so  thou  may  not  only  be  a 
blessed  instrument  in  the  hand  of  Him  "  by 
whom  kings  reign,  and  princes  decree  justice," 
to  avert  the  awful  judgements  by  which  the  em- 
pire  has  already  been  so  remarkably  shaken, 
but  that  the  blessings  of  thousands  ready  to  pe- 
rish may  come  upon  thee,  at  a  time  when  the 
superior  advantages  attendant  on  thy  situation 
in  this  world,  will  no  longer  be  of  any  avail  to 
thy  consolation  and  support.  To  the  tracts  on 
the  subject  to  which  I  have  thus  ventured  to 
crave  thy  particular  attention,  I  have  added  some 
others,  which  at  different  times,  I  have  believed 
it  my  duty  to  publish,  and  which  I  trust  will  af- 
ford thee  some  satisfaction ;  their  design  being 
for  the  furtherance  of  that  universal  peace,  and 
good  will  amongst  men,  which  the  gospel  was 
intended  to  introduce.  I  hope  thou  will  kindly 
excuse  the  freedom  used  on  this  occasion,  by  an 
ancient  man,  whose  mind  for  more  than  forty 
years  past,  has  been  much  separated  from  the 
common  course  of  the  world,  and  long  painful- 
ly exercised  in  the  consideration  of  the  miseries 
under  which  so  large  a  part  ©f  mankind  equally 


41 

With  us  the  objects  of  redeeming  love,  are  suf- 
fering the  most  unjust  and  grievous  oppression, 
and  who  sincerely  desires  the  temporal,  and  eter- 
nal felicity  of  the  queen  and  her  royal  consort. 

ANTHONY  BENEZET. 
Philadelphia,  Eighth  Month,  25th,  1783. 


After  having  perused  this  pathetic  epistle,  the 
queen  is  said  to  have  remarked  that  the  rvriter 
ivas  truly  a  good  man,  and  that  she  kindly  ac- 
cepted the  present,39  engaging  also  to  read  the 
hooks. 

He  made  a  communication  on  the  subject 
of  the  slave  trade  to  the  queens  of  France  and 
Portugal,  and  likewise  to  the  countess  of  Hun- 
tingdon. The  latter  having  founded  a  college 
for  the  education  of  indigent  orphans  near  Savan- 
nah, in  Georgia,  the  managers  of  it  employed 
slaves  for  the  cultivation  of  the  lands,  with  which 
she  had  liberally  endowed  the  institution.  His 
appeal  to  that  benevolent  female  was  successful, 
for  the  countess  assured  him  in  reply  to  his  ad- 
dress, thai  such  a  measure  should  never  have  her 

B  % 


42 

countenance,  and  that  she  would  take  care  to  pre- 
vent it 

He  corresponded  with  George  Whitfield;  and 
the  fragments  of  letters  which  follow,  show  that 
he  also  wrote  to  the  persons  who  thus  respectful- 
ly reply  to  his  letters. 


From  governor  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey, 

«  The  piece  on  slave  keeping  is  excellent,  hut 
the  arguments  against  the  lawfulness  of  waiy 
have  been  answered  a  thousand  times.  May 
the  father  of  lights  lead  us  into  all  truth,  and 
over  all  the  commotions  of  this  world,  to  his  own 
glory,  and  the  introduction  of  that  kingdom  of 
peace  and  righteousness,  which  will  endure  for- 
ever.   Believe  me  to  be  your  sincere  friend." 


From  Ambrose  Serue,  secretary  to  lord  Howe. 
Philadelphia,  June  2d,  1778. 
« I  ought  not  to  omit,  my  valued  friend,  the  re- 
turning you  my  kindest  thanks  for  your  obliging 


43 

present  of  bookg,  which  I  shall  peruse  with  at- 
tention, and  for  your  sake  keep  them  by  me.  It 
would  be  happy  for  the  world  at  large;  and  for 
individuals,  if  the  principles  they  maintain  were 
rightly  understood  and  cordially  received;  we 
should  in  that  case  have  had  no  occasion  to  de- 
plore the  present  miseries  and  troubles,  which 
(as  the  certain  effect  of  sin)  naturally  result  from 
the  ambition,  dishonesty  and  other  unmortified 
passions  of  mankind.  The  world  on  the  contrary 
would  be  something  like  a  paradise  regained; 
and  universal  benevolence  and  philanthropy,  pre- 
side as  they  ought  in  the  human  heart.  But 
though  from  long  experience  we  may  and  must 
despair  of  the  general  diffusion  of  christian  sen- 
timents and  practice,  we  have  this  comfortable 
trust,  in  our  own  particular  persons,  that  we 
have  a  peace  which  the  world  can  neither  give 
nor  take  away ;  and  though  the  kingdoms  of  this 
world  tumble  into  confusion,  and  are  lost  in  the 
corrupted  strivings  of  men,  we  have  a  kingdom 
prepared  of  God,  incorruptible  and  that  cannot 
fade  away.  There,  though  I  see  your  face  no 
more  upon  earth,  I  have  the  hope  of  meeting 
with  you  again ;  both  of  us  divested  of  all  that 


44 

can  clog  or  injure  our  spirits,  aijd  both  partici- 
pating that  fulness  of  joy  which  flows  from  God*  s 
right  harid  for  evermore.  To  his  tender  protec- 
tion I  commend  you,  and  remain  with  sincere  es- 
teem your  affectionate  friend." 


From  John  Wesley. 

« Mr.  Oglethorp  you  know  went  so  far  as  to 
begin  settling  a  colony  without  negroes,  but  at 
length  the  voice  of  those  villains  prevailed  who 
sell  their  country  and  their  God  for  gold,  who 
laugh  at  human  nature  and  compassion,  and  defy 
all  religion,  but  that  of  getting  money.  It  is 
certainly  our  duty  to  do  all  in  our  power  to  check 
this  growing  evil,  and  something  may  be  done  by 
spreading  those  tracts  which  place  it  in  a  true 
light.  But  I  fear  it  will  not  be  stopped  till  all 
the  kingdoms  of  this  earth  become  the  kingdoms 
•f  our  God.5' 


45 

From  Nathaniel  Gilbert,  of  Antigua. 

October  29th,  ±768. 
"  I  desire  to  embrace  as  my  brethren  all  who 
love  the  Lord  Jesus  in  sincerity.  I  cannot  but 
think  that  all  true  christians  agree  in  fundamen- 
tals. Your  tracts  concerning  slavery  are  very 
just,  and  it  is  a  matter  I  have  often  thought  of, 
even  before  I  became  acquainted  with  the  truth : 
your  arguments  are  forcible  against  purchasing 
slaves,  or  being  any  way  concerned  in  that 
trade." 


The  subsequent  extracts  from  letters  address- 
ed to  his  friend,  the  late  Samuel  Allinson,  of  Bur- 
lington, in  New  Jersey,  who  was  one  of  his  co- 
adjutors in  that  state,  for  promoting  the  aboli- 
tion of  the  slave  trade,  will  further  show  how 
various  and  incessant  were  his  eiforts  in  this 
branch  of  his  labours. 


Philadelphia,  Tenth  Month,  30th,  1772. 
"  I  herewith  send  iiiee  a  small  tract  (which  I 
desire  thou  mviycst  keep)   lately  sent  me   by 


46 

Granville  Sharp ;  it  is  an  appendix  to  his  former 
treatise,  and  was  published  on  account  of  the 
late  negroe  trial.  He  has  wrote  me  a  long  intel- 
ligent letter,  with  relation  to  the  situation  of 
things  in  London  on  that  head,  which  I  shall  be 
well  pleased  to  have  an  opportunity  to  communi- 
cate to  thee.  It  seems  lord  Mansfield,  notwith- 
standing truth  forced  him  to  give  such  a  judg- 
ment,^ was  rather  disposed  to  favour  the  cause 
of  the  master  than  that  of  the  slave.  He  advised 
the  master  to  apply  to  the  parliament  then  sit- 
ting, which  was  done  accordingly,  but  without 
success.  He  fears  such  an  application  will  be 
renewed  at  the  next  session,  and  is  preparing, 
through  his  friends  in  parliament  and  the  bish- 
ops, to  endeavour  to  prevent  its  taking  place,  and 
calls  for  our  help  from  this  side  the  water.  In 
this  case  as  he  desires  a  speedy  answer,  I  stand 
in  need  of  the  advice  of  my  friends  what  answer 
to  make  him.  I  have  already  let  one  opportunity 
pass  \  there  will  be  soon  another  to  Liverpool.  I 
have  also  to  communicate  an  interesting  letter 
from  Benjamin  Franklin  on  the  same  subject." 

*  In  the  case  of  Somerset. 


47 

Philadelphia,  Eleventh  Month,  30tfi,  1772. 
Dear  Samuel, 

I  received  both  thy  letters,  inclosing  the  peti- 
tions,* and  have  been  concerned  that  I  have  not 
sooner  acquainted  thee  with  what  had  been  re- 
sulted thereon ;  but  the  care  of  a  large  school, 
engagement  upon  engagement,  I  think  four  or 
^\e  evenings  last  week,  on  committees,  &c.  and 
the  books  which  I  received  from  England,  which 
I  intended  to  send  thee  not  being  all  returned, 
occasioned  the  delay.  The  vessel  from  Virginia 
being  near  its  departure  when  the  petitions  came 
to  hand,  had  but  just  time  to  confer  with  James 
Pemberton,  on  the  expediency  of  forwarding 
them,  when  we  concluded  best  to  take  more  time, 
and  wait  for  a  future  opportunity  which  he 
thought  would  offer.  I  herewith  send  thee  such 
of  the  pieces  relating  to  slavery,  &c.  of  the  ne- 
groes, which  I  have  been  able  to  get  back ;  people 
are  shamefully  careless  in  not  returning  borrow- 
ed books.  That  wanting,  wrote  by  a  West  In- 
dian, I  will  send   hereafter.     I  have  received 

*  Memorials,  which  Benezet  was  instrumental  in  having- cir- 
culated on  the  subject  of  the  slave  trade,  in  several  of  the 
provinces,  addressed  to  the  king  and  parliament  of  England, 


since  I  saw  thee,  a  letter  from  the  chief  justice  of 
South  Carolina,  which  will  I  believe  afford  thee 
much  satisfaction." 


Philadelphia,  Twelfth  Month,  ±Uh,  1773. 
■«  Beloved  Friend, 

The  passage  we  were  seeking  for  is  Psalms  68, 
31,  «  Princes  shall  come  out  of  Egypt,  Ethiopia 
shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God,"  un- 
der which  name  all  that  part  of  Africa  inhabited 
by  negroes  may  be  comprehended,  and  that  these 
are  the  people  here  intended  is  clear  from  Jer.  13, 
23,  "  can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skinT9 

Since  my  return  I  have  received  letters  from 
Thomas  Nicholson  in  North  Carolina,  Edward 
Stabler  in  Virginia,  and  James  Berry  in  Mary- 
land, all  leading  members  in  their  several  yearly 
meetings  (these  I  shall  be  glad  to  communicate 
to  thee)  expressive  of  their  concern  for  forward- 
ing the  great  and  good  work  we  are  engaged  in. 
Edward  Stabler,  clerk  of  the  yearly  meeting  of 
Virginia,  expresses,  that  though  they  have  not 
yet  received  the  encouragement  they  desire  to 


49 

their  petition  in  England,  yet  it  has  not  abated 
the  zeal  of  some  of  their  leading  men  against 
the  traffic" 


"Philadelphia,  Third  Month,  30th,  1774. 
«  I  was  sorrowfully  disappointed  in  not  see- 
ing thee  in  town.  I  had  just  received  a  long  let- 
ter from  Granville  Sharp,  which  I  should  have 
been  glad  of  an  opportunity  of  showing  thee,  and 
taking  thy  advice  upon  a  suitable  answer,  more 
particularly  upon  a  matter  he  appears  to  have 
much  at  heart,  viz.  our  procuring  as  many  peti- 
tions as  possible  from  persons  of  some  weight  in 
the  several  provinces,  to  the  same  purport  as 
ours  to  the  assembly,  immediately  to  the  king 
alone.  As  I  shall  not  send  my  letter  before 
William  Dillwyn  goes,  which  may  be  some  time 
first,  perhaps  I  may  still  have  an  opportunity  of 
consulting  thee  on  this  matter.  Inclosed  I  send 
the  copy  of  an  argument,*  &c.  I  found  in  Gran- 

*  This  was  an  argument  in  defence  of  those  persons  who 
think  it  their  duty  to  protect  slaves   that  have  escaped  from 
their  masters.    It  is  founded  first  on  the  law  as  stated  in 
E 


50 

ville  Sharp's  letter  which  strikes  boldly  and 
deeply.  I  hope  the  idea  will  have  a  tendency  to 
raise  generous  sentiments  in  some  of  thy 
brethren  of  the  law,  whose  hearts  are  not  yet 
quite  seared  with  the  love  of  the  world,  to  ap- 
pear in  the  noble  cause  of  real  liberty.  I  show- 
ed it  to  Dr.  Rush,  and  inquiring  whether  we 
should  publish  it  in  the  prints,  he  replied,  «*  they 
would  knock  us  on  the  head  if  we  did."  I  be- 
lieve it  will  in  future  be  profitably  made  use  of. 
Remember  me  affectionately  to  James  Kinsey,* 
I  should  be  glad  to  know  his  sentiments  on  the 
law  reasoning  of  the  argument.     What  a  great 

*  Chief  Justice  of  New  Jersey. 


Deuteronomy,  twenty-three,  fifteen,  sixteen,  u  Thou  shalt 
not  deliver  unto  his  master,  the  servant  who  is  escaped  from 
his  master  unto  thee,"  &c.  Secondly,  on  a  maxim  of  the  com- 
mon law  of  England,  "  that  the  inferior  law  must  give  place 
to  the  superior."  Man's  laws,  to  God's  laws,  confirmed  by 
the  author  of  the  doctor  and  student,  who  asserts  that  even 
the  statute  law  ought  to  be  accounted  null  and  void,  if  it  be 
set  forth  contrary  to  the  laws  of  God.  "  Etiam  si  aliquod 
statutem  esse  editum  contra  eos  nullius  vigoris  in  legibus  anglie 
csnseri  delet"  fcte     Chapter  sixth. 


5t 

thing  it  is  to  stand  up  for  liberty,  true  liberty, 
from  a  mind  truly  delivered  from  all  selfishness, 
in  an  unfeigned  love  to  God  and  mankind.  O 
the  selfishness  of  the  human  heart,  how  muclr 
of  it  is  apt  still  to  cleave  to  us,  even  when  our 
designs  are  upright." 


*  Dear  Samuel, 

« I  herewith  send  thee  a  dozen  pamphlets.  I 
shall  be  glad  that  these  and  more  of  the  same 
may  be  handed  to  the  members  of  your  assem- 
bly, and  such  others  in  your  province,  with 
whom  they  may  be  likely  to  promote  a  represen- 
tation being  made  to  the  king  and  parliament 
agaijist  the  slave  trade." 


H  Seventh  day,  4  o'clock. 
«Dear  Friend, 

■tP  JJl»  ^p  r/F  W  *??  «Jf  •?£ 

« I  should  have  been  very  glad  to  have  got 
thee  to  peruse  the  notes  (on  slavery)  I  intend 


to  make,  as  they  will  be  large,  and  I  wish  if 
possible  to  put  them  into  the  hands  of  the  mem- 
bers of  every  assembly  on  the  continent,  except 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  but  do  not  desire 
thou  shouldst  be  put  out  of  thy  way  on  that  oc- 
casion. I  suppose  it  will  be  eight  or  ten,  or 
more  days  before  in  the  press.  It  might  pre- 
serve me  from  inadvertently  publishing  some- 
thing which  might  rather  weaken  the  cause  we 
have  both  at  heart.  However  in  this,  and  all 
other  things,  I  desire  to  stand  clear  in  the  puri- 
ty of  my  design,  and  leave  the  event,  but  watch 
against  my  natural  activity." 


From  the  magnitude  of  the  object,  and  his 
devotedness  to  its  promotion,  it  might  be  sup- 
posed that  the  abolition  of  slavery  was  the  car- 
dinal engagement  of  his  life ;  and  indeed  for 
most  other  men  than  Benezet,  it  would  have 
been  sufficiently  great  to  require  all  the  zeal 
and  perseverance,  all  the  time  and  talents,  as 
well  as  all  the  benevolence,  which  have  usually 
been  displayed  in  the  characters  of  the  most 


53 

conspicuous  philanthropists.  Among  the  cele- 
brated benefactors  of  mankind,  who  have  run 
their  bright  course,  and  ascended  to  their  reward, 
there  are  many  names  familiar  to  our  recollee-' 
tion,  deserving  and  receiving  the  tribute  of  our 
grateful  praise  ,•  but  those  illustrious  examples 
were  distinguished  by  some  one  favourite  pur- 
suit, some  peculiar  trait  of  beneficence.  As 
in  the  bountiful  dispensation  of  intellectual  pow- 
er, which  gave  Newton  superiority  in  one  sci- 
ence, and  Linnaeus  in  another,  that  ranked  Ar- 
chimedes an  original  in  mechanics,  and  yielded 
to  Virgil  and  Milton  the  palm  of  verse;  all 
were  great  in  their  respective  spheres,  whilst  on 
no  one  of  them,  was  conferred  the  felicity  of 
mind  which  could  intuitively  embrace  the  sub- 
jects for  which  each  was  conspicuous.  Univer- 
sality of  genius  is  not  more  remarkable,  nor  more 
rarely  witnessed,  than  the  virtue  of  unbounded 
love,  which  was  proverbially  awarded  to  An- 
thony Benezet. 

The  dreadful  effects  of  war  upon  nations  and 

individuals,  deeply  grieved  his  susceptible  heart. 

He   \Vrote  and  distributed  essays,  deprecating 

that  inhuman  practice,  persuading  mankind,  with 

r  % 


an  holy  ardour,  to  desist  from  such  things  as 
were  calculated  to  inflame  the  passions,  and  pro- 
duce those  wrathful  tempers  that  could  only  be 
appeased  by  cmbrueing  the  hands  of  brethren  in 
each  others  blood.  On  this  account,  he  address- 
ed an  energetic  and  pathetic  letter  to  Frederic, 
king  of  Prussia. 

For  the  promotion  of  the  peaceable  principles 
of  Christianity,  at  the  important  crisis  when  the 
representatives  of  the  colonies  were  assembled 
to  consult  on  measures  in  relation  to  the  imposi- 
lions  of  Great  Britain,  he  was  induced  to  visit 
many  of  the  deputies  in  congress,  and  endeavour- 
ed to  dissuade  them  from  a  resort  to  arms;  in 
the  benevolent  hope,   that  they  might  procure 
the  removal  of  the  grievances  complained  of, 
without  involving  the  country  in  war.     He  thus 
acquaints  one  of  his  friends  of  an  interview 
which  he  had  with  Patrick  Henry,  a  delegate 
from  Virginia, 


«  Philadelphia,  Tenth  Month,  23d,  17M. 


«  Dear 


«« jjear • 

« I  was  well  pleased  to  hear  from  thee.   I  have 
not  been  unmindfid  of  endeavouring  to  lay  before 


55 

all  the  delegates  I  have  conversed  with,  the 
dreadful  situation  of  the  people  in  the  most 
southern  provinces,  and  the  absolute  necessity 
they  are  under  of  ceasing,  at  least  from  any  far- 
ther import  of  negroes.     With  Patrick  Henry* 

*This  celebrated  orator,  and  statesman  would  probably 
never  have  developed  the  sentiments  which  are  contained  ia 
the  following1  extract  of  a  letter,  had  not  one  of  Anthony 
Benezefs  works  on  slavery  been  sent  to  him  by  a  correspon- 
dent. So  candid  an  acknowledgment  of  the  iniquity  of  the 
system,  rarely  proceeds  from  those  who  are  unhappily  the 
proprietors  of  slaves. 


"Hanover,  January  18,  1773. 
,f  Dear  sir, 

"I  take  this  opportunity  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
Anthony  Benezet's  book  against  the  slave  trade:  I  thank 
you  for  it.  It  is  not  a  little  surprising,  that  the  professors  of 
Christianity,  whose  chief  excellence  consists  in  softening  the 
human  heart,  in  cherishing  and  improving1  its  finer  feelings, 
should  encourage  a  practice  so  totally  repugnant  to  the  first 
impressions  of  right  and  wrong-.  What  adds  to  the  wonder 
is  that  this  abominable  practice  has  been  introduced  in  the 
most  enlightened  ages.  Times,  that  seem  to  have  preten- 
sions to  boast  of  high  improvements  in  the  arts  and  sciences, 
and  refined  morality,  have  brought  into  general  use,  and 


56 


I  went  further,  he  gave  some  attention  when  I 
mentioned  from  whence  I  apprehended  we  must 


guarded  by  many  laws,  a  species  of  violence  and  tyranny, 
which  our  more  rude  and  barbarous,  but  more  honest  ances- 
tors detested.  Is  it  not  amazing,  that  at  a  time,  when  the 
rights  of  humanity  are  defined  and  understood  with  preci- 
sion, in  a  country,  above  all  others,  fond  of  liberty ;  that  in 
such  an  age,  and  in  such  a  country,  we  find  men  professing  a 
religion  the  most  humane,  mild,  gentle  and  generous,  adopt- 
ing a  principle  as  repugnant  to  humanity,  as  it  is  inconsist- 
ent with  the  bible,  and  destructive  to  liberty  ?  every  think- 
ing honest  man  rejects  it  in  speculation.  How  few  in  prac- 
tice from  conscientious  motives  ! 

"  Would  any  one  believe  that  I  am  master  of  slaves,  of  my 
own  purchase !  I  am  drawn  along  by  the  general  inconve- 
nience of  living  here  without  them.  I  will  not,  I  cannot  jus- 
tify it.  However  culpable  my  conduct,  I  will  so  far  pay  my 
devoir  to  virtue,  as  to  own  the  excellence  and  rectitude  of  her 
precepts,  and  lament  my  want  of  conformity  to  them. 

"  I  believe  a  time  -will  come  -when  an  opportunity  -will  be  offer- 
ed to  abolish  this  lamentable  evil.*     Every  thing  we  can  do,  is 


*  Almost  half  a  century  has  elapsed  since  this  interesting 
idea  was  suggested ;  but  alas,  no  efforts  have  been  used  by 
•the  law  givers  of  those  states,  where  this  "lamentable  eviF 


57 

look  for  deliverance,  even  from  God  alone,  by 
pursuing  such  methods  as  would  be  most  agree- 


to  improve  it,  if  it  happens  in  our  day ;  if  not,  let  us  trans- 
mit to  our  descendants,  together  with  our  slaves,  a  pity  for 
their  unhappy  lot,  and  an  abhorrence  for  slavery.  If  we  can- 
not reduce  this  wished  for  reformation  to  practice,  let  us 
treat  the  unhappy  victims  with  lenity.  It  is  the  furthest  ad- 
vance we  can  make  towards  justice.  It  is  a  debt  we  owe  to 
the  purity  of  our  religion,  to  show  that  it  is  at  variance  with 
that  law,  which  warrants  slavery. 

I  know  not  where  to  stop.  I  could  say  many  things  on  the 
subject;  a  serious  view  of  which,  gives  a  gloomy  perspective 
to  future  times  ! 


exists,  to  "  abolish'9  it.  The  enlightened  and  liberal  mind 
in  which  so  reasonable  an  expectation  originated,  no  longer 
abides  on  earth,  to  aid  with  its  comprehensive  energies,  the 
long  delayed  work  of  mercy  and  right, 

It  is  true,  that  within  a  few  years  past,  the  condition  of 
the  slaves  in  the  south,  is  in  some  instances  meliorated,  and 
dispositions  have  been  manifested  by  individuals,  to  emanci- 
pate their  negroes,  provided  they  can  be  conveyed  to  those 
states  werefreedotn  is  not  an  empty  sound.    But  in  the  august 


58 

able  to  the  nature  of  the  Beneficent  Father  of 
the  family  of  mankind,  whose  love  and  regard  t» 


name  of  justice,  it  may  be  asked,  whether  by  such  means  the 
great  and  solemn  purposes  which  she  demands,  are  to  be  ac- 
complished ?  Religion  and  reason  pronounce  a  negative.  It 
is  worse  than  folly  to  suppose,  that  the  middle  and 
northern  sections  of  the  union,  will  consent  thus  to  have  cast 
upon  them,  portions  of  the  black  population,  conditionally 
set  free  by  the  wills  of  their  masters,  debased  and  corrupted 
as  they  are  by  the  ignorance  and  vices  of  slavery,  whilst  it  is 
the  opinion  of  many  discreet  and  benevolent  men,  that  such 
partial  relief,  tends  directly  to  prolong  the  practice  of  slave 
holding,  by  the  great  mass  of  persons,  who  feel  no  compassion 
for  those  unhappy  sufferers.  What  then  shall  be  done  ?  may 
be  the  question.  The  reply  is  not  difficult,  nor  the  plan  im- 
practicable, if  sincere  desires  be  cultivated  to  wipe  from  the 
nation  a  stain  so  foul.  Let  laws  be  enacted  providing  for  the 
gradual  and  final  abolition  of  slavery,  by  fitting  the  younger 
generation  of  slaves  for  freedom  and  settlement,  either  on 
some  section  of  country  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United 
States,  the  climate  and  situation  of  which  may  be  suited  to 
their  character,  or  make  arrangements  for  conveying  then! 
to  the  land  whence  their  fathers  were  treacherously  and 
inhumanly  estranged. 

In  aid  of  either  of  these  methods,  or  of  any  other  which 
shall  have  for  its  object,  the  redemption  of  those  degraded 


59 

Ms  children,  even  such  who  were  influenced  by 
wrong  dispositions,  remained  unchangeable. 
That  we  could  not  conciliate  the  Divine  regard, 
but  by  acting  agreeably  to  the  Divine  attribute, 
which  was  love,  and  was  to  overcome  by  suffer- 
ing. 

"That  whatever  wound  might  be  given  or  re- 
ceived, between  us  and  the  mother  country,  if 
ever  that  which  was  right  prevailed,  we  should 
mutually  mourn  over.  That  as  Christianity 
knew  of  no  enemies,  we  could  not  expect  deliv- 
erance by  the  violent  method  proposed,  without 
departing  from  the  true  foundation.  To  this 
with  seriousness  he  replied,  that  it  was  strange 
to  him,  to  find  some  of  the  Quakers  manifesting 
so  different  a  disposition  from  that  I  had  des- 


fellow  men  from  bondage,  every  facility  which  pecuniary 
means  can  afford,  would  no  doubt  be  munificently  supplied 
by  private  donations  of  benevolent  persons,  should  an  appli- 
cation of  the  public  treasure  to  that  object  be  deemed  inad- 
missible. No  matter  what  sacrifice  is  made,  when  humanity 
and  justice  require  the  offering.  Our  offending  has  been 
high,  obdurate  and  conscious ;  the  expiation  must  be  commen* 
curate. 


6« 

cribed.  I  reminded  hini  that  many  of  them  had 
no  other  claim  to  our  principles,  but  as  they 
were  children  or  grand-children  of  those  who 
professed  those  principles.  I  suppose  his  re- 
mark principally  arose  from  the  violent  spirit 
which  some  under  our  profession  are  apt  to  show, 
more  particularly  in  the  congress,  amongst 
whom  I  understand  one  of  the  deputies  from 
your  city,  and  one  from  ours,  appear  as  princi- 
pals for  promoting  such  measures.  I  feel  but 
little  apprehension  at  the  prospect  of  things, 
which  to  many  is  so  alarming.  People  are  afraid 
of  being  disturbed  in  their  enjoyments,  in  their 
ease,  their  confidence  in  the  world,  and  the 
things  of  it.  But  I  fear  nothing  more  than  giv- 
ing way  to  a  spirit  whose  hope  and  expectation 
is  from  the  unchristian,  yea  unnatural,  and  cruel 
measures  proposed  by  many,  too  many,  who  seem 
to  have  worked  themselves  to  such  a  pitch,  that 
it  looks  as  if  they  were  athirst  for  blood !  Its 
from  God  alone,  by  true  faith  in  his  promises, 
deliverance  must  arise;  and  if  from  the  prevalence 
of  other  measures  affliction  and  distress  should 
be  our  lot,  it  will  be  our  own  fault  if  it  does  not 
work  for  our  good.     Oh !  if  a  sufficient  concern 


61 

prevailed  to  experience  grace  to  gain  the  victory, 
to  know  all  worldly  inclinations  and  desires  to  be 
brought  under  the  regulation  of  the  humbling 
power  of  the  gospel,  many  would  feel  so  much  of 
self  in  themselves,  inducing  to  hope  and  seek  for 
comfort  from  the  world,  from  our  ease  and  plen- 
ty, which  is  ^et  as  a  bar  to  obtaining  an  estab- 
lishment in  the  pure,  the  humble,  self  denying 
path  of  truth.  If  we  properly  felt  our  wants, 
the  gulf  between  us  and  true  peace,  if  the  com- 
hat  between  nature  and  grace  were  duly  main- 
tained, the  dread  of  outward  evils  would  have 
little  weight  with  us,  however  we  fall  by  out- 
ward commotion,  even  if  the  earth  should  be  dis- 
solved, if  in  proper  dispositions  we  cannot  fall 
lower  than  in  God's  arms. 

**  In  haste,  I  remain  thy  affectionate  friend, 

« ANTHONY  BENEZET. 

♦*  P.  S.  I  should  have  been  glad  to  have  seen 

thyself  and  dear  companion  before  you  left  us* 

but  make  it  a  rule  to  take  no  exception  where  no 

slight  is  intended ;  Indeed  where  it  is,  to  bear  it, 

G 


63 

and  take  the  first  opportunity  to  return  kindness 
for  the  contrary,  as  most  noble,  and  most  condu- 
cive to  peace." 


Several  of  his  tracts  on  this  subject,  especial- 
ly one  entitled  «  Thoughts  on  the  Nature  of 
War,"  published  in  1776,  were  sent  to  persons  of 
distinction  and  influence  in  government  in  our 
own  country,  and  in  Europe.  The  following  let- 
ter accompanied  a  packet  containing  some  of 
those  treatises,  addressed  to 

«  Henry  Laurens,  President  of  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States. 

«  The  fear  of  intruding  upon  thy  engagements, 
having  prevented  my  waiting  upon  thee,  and  the 
desire  of  saluting  thee  by  a  few  lines,  I  take  the 
liberty,  with  due  respect,  to  enclose  the  within 
pamphlets,  which  I  earnestly  request  thou  wilt 
seriously  peruse,  as  they  contain  matters  of  (he 
utmost  importance  to  the  cause  thou  art  engaged 


63 

in.  How  far  as  followers  of  a  Saviour,  who  en- 
joins us  to  love  one  another,  even  to  love  our 
eneoiies,  and  who  finally  gave  up  his  life  for  our 
salvation,  we  can  readily  continue  in  a  war, 
Avhereby  so  many  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands 
of  our  fellow  men,  equally  with  ourselves  the  ob- 
jects of  redeeming  grace,  are  brought  to  a 
miserable  and  untimely  end ;  not  to  mention  the 
corruption  of  manners,  the  waste  of  substance, 
&c.  thereby  introduced,  is  a  matter  which  cer- 
tainly calls  for  the  most  serious  consideration  of 
those  who  retain  the  least  love  for  mankind. 
"  The  Thoughts  on  War"  will  I  trust  lessen,  if 
not  remove  any  prejudice  which  our  Friends'  re- 
fusal to  join  in  any  military  operation  may  have 
occasioned.  The  caution,  &e.  on  slavery,  will  I 
believe  in  general,  meet  with  thy  approbation ; 
it  was  re-printed  in  London,  and  delivered  to 
about  eight  hundred  members  of  parliament, 
and  officers  of  the  crown. 

<•  I  respectfully  remain  thy  friend, 

«  ANTHONY  BENEZET." 


64 

Deploring  as  he  did,  whatever  had  a  tendency 
to  abridge  the  comforts,  increase  the  sorrows,  or 
endanger  the  present  and  eternal  safety  of  men  i 
he  could  not  but  discern  the  ensnaring  influence 
incident  to  the  habitual  use  of  spirituous  liquors. 
Observation  had  furnished  him  with  afflicting 
evidence,  that  to  this  fruitful  cause  of  evil  might 
be  traced  many  of  the  most  distressing  instances 
of  the  premature  termination  of  human  life,  the 
overthrow  of  domestic  happiness,  and  the  pros- 
tration of  the  highest  intellect.  Against  the  em- 
ployment, therefore,  of  that  article,  excepting  in 
the  materia  mediea,  he  maintained  a  continual 
and  faithful  testimony.^  His  exertions  to  dimin- 
ish the  abuse  of  it,  were  not  confined  to  oral  ar- 
gument and  admonition,  but  he  conceived  it  to  be 
of  sufficient  importance  to  communicate  his  sen- 
timents respecting  it  to  the  world,  in  a  pamphlet 
which  he  published  in  1778.  In  the  same  year 
he  also  issued  a  small  work  entitled  "  Serious 
Reflections  on  the  Times,  addressed  to  the  well 
disposed  of  every  religious  denomination."  In  this 
treatise  he  laments  the  insensibility  which  he  con- 
ceived to  be  too  generally  manifested  by  the  inhabi- 
tants to  the  "judgment  of  war >"  which  theninvolv- 


65 

ed  the  country  in  distress,  and  endeavoured  to 
persuade  the  people  to  cultivate  a  spirit  of  recon- 
ciliation. He  closes  his  book  in  the  following 
affectionate  and  feeling  manner.  "  Let  us  not, 
beloved  brethren,  forget  our  profession  as  chris- 
tians, nor  the  blessing  promised  by  Christ  to  the 
peace  makers,  but  let  us  all  sincerely  address  our 
common  Father  for  ability  to  pray,  not  for  the 
destruction  of  our  enemies,  who  are  still  our 
brethren,  the  purchase  of  our  blessed  Redeem- 
er's blood;  but  for  an  agreement  with  them. 
Not  in  order  to  indulge  our  passions  in  the  gain 
and  delights  of  this  vain  world,  and  forget  that 
we  are  called  to  be  as  pilgrims  and  strangers  in 
it ;  but  that  we  may  be  more  composed,  and  bet- 
ter fitted  for  the  kingdom  of  God ;  that  in  the 
dispensations  of  his  good  pleasure  he  may  grant 
us  such  a  peace,  as  may  prove  to  the  consolation 
of  the  Church,  as  well  as  the  nation,  and  be  on 
earth  an  image  of  the  tranquility  of  Heaven.'* 
Toward  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the  Ame- 
rican continent,  there  flowed  from  the  expanded 
heart  of  Anthony  Benezet,  copious  streams  of 
solicitude  and  sympathy.  He  looked  upon  them 
as  a  race  of  his  brethren  equally  with  himself 

6    2 


66 

the  objects  of  Divine  regard,  and  though  untaught 
in  the  arts,  and  strangers  to  the  advantages  of 
civilized  life,  he  respected  the  correctness  of  some 
of  their  practices,  and  admired  the  wisdom  of 
many  of  their  laws.  Notwithstanding  their  « wn- 
tutored  minds/9  had  never  been  made  acquainted 
with  the  written  history  of  the  christian  religion, 
nor  their  reason  replenished  from  the  stores  of 
learning,  still  he  believed  that  their  sacred  rites 
found  acceptance  with  God,  as  devotions  intend- 
ed to  give  evidence  of  their  helief  in  his  eternal 
existence,    providence,    and    government.     Be- 
holding them   through   this  amiable  and  com- 
passionate medium,  he  could  not  sanction  the  con- 
tumely which  they  suffered,  whilst  he  publicly, 
and  fearlessly  avowed  his  opinions  of  the  injus- 
tice and  inhumanity,  of  any  measures,  either  of 
the  provincial  governments,  or  of  individuals, 
which   tended  to  the  violation  of  any  of  their 
rights   of  person,   or  of  property.     From    the 
scraps  of  Indian  history  which  have  been  found 
among  his  manuscripts,  it  is  evident  that  he  was 
collecting  important  facts,  and  recording  interest- 
ing events  concerning  that  people ;  probably  w  ith 
the  design  of  furnishing  a  more  general  account 


67 

of  them,  than  that  which  he  published  in  178*. 
entitled,  "  Some  Observations  on  the  Situation, 
Disposition  and  Character  ofthe  Indian  Natives  of 
this  Continent."  In  the  year  1763,  when  sir  Jef- 
fery  Amherst,  commander  in  chief  of  the  British 
forces,  was  at  New  York,  preparing  to  open  a 
campaign  against  the  Indians,  Benezet  anticipa- 
ting with  horror  the  wide  spreading  devastation 
which  must  be  the  effect  of  hostilities  with  the 
natives,  addressed  to  him  the  following  letter. 


«  Philadelphia,  Seventh  Month,  17fto. 
«  With  much  respect,  and  from  I  trust  noth- 
ing but  love  to  mankind,  and  a  particular  con- 
cern for  the  great  distress  which  will  necessarily 
attend  the  inhabitants  of  our  large  extended  fron- 
tiers should  a  war  be  once  kindled  with  the  In- 
dians ;  and  from  a  persuasion  of  the  justice  and 
benevolence  of  the  general's  disposition,  I  make 
bold  earnestly  to  request  a  few  moments  of  thy 
kind  attention,  whilst  I  make  mention  of  what  I 
apprehend  is  in  a  great  degree  the  occasion  of 
the  violent  part  the  Indians  have  of  late  acted, 


68 

drawn  as  well  from  several  years  observation  of 
tlie  disposition  of  the  Indians,  as  from  conversa- 
tion with  Frederic  Post,  a  person  who  resided 
many  years  among  these  people,  and  had  been  often 
employed  by  our  government  as  a  messenger  to 
them.  It  appears  the  Indians  have  long  enter- 
tained a  jealousy  that  the  English  intended  vio- 
lently to  dispossess  and  drive  them  off  of  their 
lands  ;  this  is  more  particularly  verified  from  an 
account  wrote  by  the  above  mentioned  Frederic 
Post,  of  his  journey  to  the  river  Ohio,  when  sent 
there  by  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  in  order 
to  divert  the  Indians  settled  on  that  river  from 
giving  any  assistance  to  the  French.  In  a  con- 
versation he  had  with  those  Indians,  before 
Pittsburgh  was  evacuated,  the  Indians  repeat- 
edly expressed  their  desire  that  when  the  French 
were  removed,  the  English  should  also  evacuate 
the  lands  to  the  westward  of  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains, agreeably  to  the  expectation  which  had 
been  given  them  by  messages  sent  them  in  the 
name  of  the  English  government,  viz.  « that 
the  English  intended  to  oblige  the  French  to 
abandon  all  the  country  on  the  Ohio,  without 
any  design  of  settling  those  lands  themselves, 


69 

that  they  only  proposed  to  establish  a  trade  with 
the  western  Indians  on  a  fair  and  good  footing." 
And  in  the  instructions  given  to  Frederic  Post 
in  his  journey  to  a  great  council  of  Indians  on 
the  Ohio,  he  was  directed  to  assure  the  Indians 
of  our  sincere  disposition  towards  peace,  and 
that  we  should  do  our  utmost  endeavours  not 
only  to  renew  and  strengthen  our  former  friend- 
ship and  alliances,  but  to  settle  every  thing  to 
their  satisfaction  that  is  likely  to  occasion  dif- 
ferences ;  and  to  give  the  Indians  every  where 
the  strongest  assurances  that  no  person  should 
be  permitted  to  make  settlements  on  their  lands, 
or  any  where  to  the  westward  of  the  Alleghany 
mountains.  It  appears  by  Post's  Journal,  that 
immediately  after  the  English  had  possessed  them- 
selves of  Fort  Duquesne,  the  Indians  desired  it 
might  be  evacuated,  and  that  the  English  should 
retire  to  the  eastward  of  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains, but  this  not  being  agreeable  to  the  English, 
the  Indians  were  repeatedly  put  upon  to  alter  that 
resolution,  but  they  persisted  in  it,  and  at  differ- 
ent times  replied  as  follows  :  **  we  have  already 
answered  what  we  have  to  say  to  the  general, 
that  he  should  go  back  over  the  mountains  :  we 


70 

( 

have  nothing  to  say  to  the  contrary.  We  have 
told  them  three  times  to  leave  the  place,  hut 
they  insist  upon  staying  here  ;  if  therefore,  they 
will  be  destroyed  by  the  French  and  Indians,  we 
cannot  help  them.59  The  question  being  again 
put  to  them,  the  counsellors  said  "they  had 
spoken  nothing  but  what  was  agreed  between 
the  Indians  at  Custkusking.  We  have  told 
them,"  say  they,  «  three  times  to  go  back,  but 
they  will  not  go,  insisting  upon  staying  here ;  now 
you  will  let  the  governor  general  and  all  people 
know  that  our  desire  is  that  they  should  go  back 
till  the  other  nations  had  joined  in  the  peace, 
and  then  they  may  come,  and  build  a  trading 
house." 

A  noted  Indian,  one  of  the  chief  counsellors, 
told  Post  and  his  company  in  secret  « that  all 
the  Indians  had  jointly  agreed  to  defend  their 
hunting  place  at  Alleghany,  and  suffer  nobody 
to  settle  there,  so  he  begged  us  to  tell  the  gov- 
ernor general  and  all  other  people  not  to  settle 
there,  and  if  the  English  would  draw  back  over 
the  mountains  they  would  get  the  other  nations 
into  their  interest,  but  if  they  staid  and  settled 
there,  all  the  nations  would  be  against  them, 


71 

and  he  was  afraid  it  would  be  a  great  war,  and 
never  come  to  a  peace  again."  It  was  the  opin- 
ion of  Frederic  Post,  that  if  the  English  did 
not  attend  to  this  request  and  would  persist  in 
holding  possession  of  Pittsburgh,  and  suffering 
the  lands  to  the  westward  of  the  Alleghany  to 
be  settled  without  the  consent  of  the  Indians,  it 
would  be  a  further  occasion  of  bloodshed.  It 
appears  that  the  six  nations  were  also  disgusted 
at  Pittsburgh  and  Fort  Augusta  being  retained, 
and  fortified  by  the  English,  by  what  passed  at 
the  treaty  held  last  summer  at  Lancaster  with 
governor  Hamilton,  when  the  governor  propo- 
sing to  have  the  consent  of  the  Indians  for  car- 
rying goods  by  the  west  branch  of  Susquehanna 
to  Pittsburg,  the  head  warrior  of  the  Senecas 
appeared  much  disturbed  at  the  proposal,  and 
among  other  things  replied  "  brother  you  may 
remember  you  told  me  (speaking  on  behalf  of 
the  whole  nation)  when  you  was  going  to  Pitts- 
burgh, you  would  build  a  fort  against  the  French, 
and  you  told  me  that  you  wanted  none  of  our 
land,  our  cousins  (pointing  to  the  Ohio  Indians 
who  were  then  present)  know  this,  you  promised 
to  go  away  as  soon  as  you  drove  the  French 


72 

away,  and  yet  you  stay  there  and  build  houses 
and  make  it  stronger  and  stronger  every  day, 
for  this  reason  we  entirely  deny  your  request, 
you  shall  not  have  a  road  this  way.95 

Upon  the  whole  it  is  thought,  that  the  appre- 
hension the  Indians  are  under,  that  the  English 
intend  hy  degrees  to  dispossess  them  of  their 
land,  is  the  cause  of  the  cruel  violence  they  have 
lately  committed,  which  probably,  is  not  without 
the  knowledge  and  consent  of  the  six  nations ; 
those  political  people  making  use  of  the  smaller 
nations  to  accomplish  their  designs,  but  in  such  a 
manner  as  that  they  may  rather  act  the  part  of 
mediators  than  accessaries,  when  perhaps  they 
are  principals.  Could  the  Indians  be  made  easy 
in  this  respect,  I  much  hope  that  the  ancient 
friendship  formerly  subsisting  between  them  and 
the  English  would  be  restored,  an  extensive  and 
profitable  trade  would  be  carried  on  with  them, 
and  our  people  might  securely  settle,  though  per- 
haps in  a  more  compact  manner  upon  those  lands 
already  purchased,  which  it  is  thought  would  be 
fruitful  of  many  advantages,  and  doubtless  the 
Indians  would  (as  they  have  always  done)  let  the 
English  have  more  land  upon  very  easy  terms  as 


73 

fast  as  we  should  be  ready  to  settle  it,  which  is 
the  more  likely,  because  the  land  back  of  the 
provinces  for  many  hundred  miles,  even  as  far 
west  as  the  Mississippi,  is  but  thinly  inhabited, 
there  being  (by  credible  accounts)  but  few  thous- 
ands of  Indians  upon  that  large  extent  of  country  ; 
yet  enough  to  drive  our  frontier  inhabitants  to 
the  greatest  extremity,  should  the  English  re- 
solve to  possess  and  maintain  that  land  by  force 
of  arms.  It  is  often  used  as  an  argument  for 
maintaining  the  strong  places  the  English  have 
taken  in  the  Indian  countries,  that  those  places 
were  freely  granted  by  the  Indians  to  the  French, 
and  therefore  the  property  of  the  English  by 
right  of  conquest ;  but  upon  inquiry,  I  believe  the 
conclusion  will  be  seen  to  be  wrong,  and  it  will 
appear  that  it  was  generally  either  under  pre- 
tence of  building  trading  houses,  or  by  violence, 
that  the  French  got  footing  amongst  them. 

This  was  particularly  the  case  in  the  settle- 
ment made  by  the  French  at  Pittsburgh,  as  ap- 
pears by  a  treaty  held  at  Carlisle  by  the  govern- 
ment of  Pennsylvania  in  1753,  with  some  depu- 
ties of  the  Indians  settled  on  the  Ohio.  They 
came  to  acquaint  the  governors  of  Pennsylvania 

H 


74 

and  Virginia,  that  the  French  were  coming  up 
the  lakes  with  a  large  body  of  troops,  to  build 
four  strong  houses  on  the  Ohio,  that  their  coun- 
cil had  sent  twice  to  forbid  the  French  advan- 
cing any  further  upon  their  land,  but  that  the 
French  general  had  manifested  the  greatest  dis- 
regard to  their  opposition,  and  told  them  he  was 
resolved  to  build  four  strong  houses  (of  which 
Pittsburgh  was  one)  and  farther  that  he  intend- 
ed to  prevent  them  from  making  any  more  fool- 
ish bargains  about  land  with  the  English.  Per- 
haps I  have  said  nothing  to  the  general  but  what 
he  is  already  fully  acquainted  with,  yet  I  trust 
the  weightiness  of  the  subject,  and  the  upright- 
ness .  of  my  intention,  will  plead  my  excuse  for 
the  liberty  I  have  presumed  to  take.  There 
are  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  Indians  at  a 
place  called  Wyaloosing,  situate  upon  the  north 
branch  of  Susquehanna,  about  seventy  miles  above 
Wyoming.  These  Indians  are  an  industrious  re- 
ligiously minded  people.  The  name  of  their 
chief  is  Papunobal ;  they  absolutely  refused  to 
Join  the  other  Indians  in  the  last  war,  though 
threatened  with  death  on  that  account.  There 
is  also  another  Indian  settlement  about  forty  miles 


75 

higher  up  the  same  branch  of  the  Susquehanna, 
consisting  of  about  one  hundred  persons  (the  name 
of  which  I  am  not  certain  of)  their  chief  men  are 
Robert  White  and  Samuel  Curtis,  they  are  also 
a  sober  and  industrious  people,  principally  of  the 
Nanticoke  tribe,  who  about  twenty  years  ago  at 
the  request  of  the  five  nations,  were  permitted  t& 
remove  from  Maryland  to  the  place  w  here  they 
now  are.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  last  In- 
dian war  their  chief  man  sent  a  string  of  Wam- 
pum to  the  other  Indians  with  these  words, 
"  brethren  if  you  desire  to  become  grey,  and  see 
many  days  upon  this  earth,  leave  off  striking  the 
English.55*  The  disposition  of  many  of  the 
common  people,  and  indeed  some  others,  is  at  pre- 
sent such,  and  a  spirit  of  so  much  wrath  is  kin- 
dled in  their  breasts,  that  there  is  danger  not  only 
that  these  Indian  settlements,  but  that  several 
other  smaller  settlements  of  the  Indians  within 
our  province,  may  be  destroyed  should  these  trou- 
bles continue,  if  an  uncommon  care  is  not  taken 
to  prevent  it.    And  here  I  beg  the  general's  ex- 

*  The  term  *  English*9  used  in  this  letter,  means  the  white 
peopU. 


76 

ctise  if  I  add,  that  notwithstanding  the  conduct  of 
the  Indians  has  for  some  years  past  been  such  as 
has  raised  a  great  prejudice  against  them,  yet 
from  near  seventy  years  experience,  the  people 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  I  believe  also  many  in  New 
York,  know  that  the  Indians-  (when  not  irritated 
and  vitiated  by  the  conduct  ami  converse  of  the 
worst  of  the  Europeans,  such  as  the  Indian  tra- 
ders too  generally  are)  are  in  general  a  people 
that  will  be  true  to  their  promises,  if  strict  care 
be  taken  on  the  Europeans5  part  to  fulfil  their  en- 
gagements to  them. 

"  JLnd further,  may  I  entreat  the  general  for  our 
hlessed  Redeemer's  sake,  from  the  nobility  and 
humanity  of  his  heart,  that  he  would  condescend 
to  use  all  moderate  measures  if  possible,  to  pre- 
vent that  cruel  and  prodigious  effusion  of  blood, 
that  deep  anxiety  and  distress  that  must  Jill  the 
breasts  of  so  many  helpless  people,  should  an  In- 
dian ivar  be  once  entered  upon  ! 

«  ANTHONY  BENEZET." 


Superadded  to  his  individual  exertions  in  this 
good  work,  he  was  one  of  those,  who  influenced 


77 

by  the  purest  motives  of  good  will  toward  the 
Indians,  of  concern  for  the  real  welfare  of  the 
whole  community,  and  penetrated  by  a  generous 
sense  of  the  kind  dispositions  which  had  been 
manifested  by  the  forefathers  of  the  natives  to 
the  first  European  settlers  in  Pennsylvania,  were 
induced  in  the  year  1756,  to  form  a  society  enti- 
tled "  The  Friendly  Association  for  Regaining 
and  Preserving  Peace  with  the  Indians  by  Paci- 
fic Measures."*    Of  this  body  he  was  an  active 

*  The  course  pursued  by  several  of  the  proprietors5  gover- 
nors toward  the  Indians,  was  radically  opposed  to  the  views 
of  the  freemen  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  as  may  be 
seen  by  reference  to  the  measures  adopted  at  different  pe- 
riods by  their  representatives  in  the  assembly.  Some  of  the 
warmest  controversies  which  occurred  in  early  times  between 
the  proprietary  government  and  the  people,  grew  out  of  the 
conflicting  opinions  which  were  entertained  on  this  subject. 
The  establishment  of  stores  on  the  borders  by  persons  to 
whom  the  governors  granted  permission,  the  introduction  of 
spirituous  liquors  among  the  natives  by  those  traders,  contra- 
ry to  the  wish,  and  in  some  cases  after  the  express  forbidding 
of  the  Indians  themselves,  together  with  the  corrupt  and 
cruel  conduct  of  many  of  those  mercantile  agents,  and  th« 
persons  they  had  about  therm  were  the  real  causes  of  most, 
if  not  all,  of  the  hostile  incursions  of  the  natives  upon  th<? 
frontier  settlements.  Hence  it  was  apparent  ts  tfeose,  wfeo 
H  % 


79 

and  useful  member,  having  been  several  times 
elected  one  of  the  sixteen  trustees  who  managed 


were  immediately  entrusted  with  the  interests  of  the  people 
of  the  state,  that  so  long  as  such  a  course  was  pursued  by 
the  proprietors'  representatives  not  only  the  dreadful  ravages 
of  war  must  be  produced,  and  the  expenses  for  the  support 
of  the  government  be  multiplied,  but  the  extension  of  settle- 
ment upon  fair  and  honourable  principles,  would  be  impeded, 
or  wholly  suppressed.  The  preservation  of  tranquility  with 
the  Indians  was  therefore  the  interest,  and  the  wish  of  the 
great  mass  of  the  inhabitants,  whilst  unhappily  the  conduct 
of  the  executive  and  its  friends,  tended  to  interrupt  the  rela-» 
tions  of  harmony  with  their  aboriginal  neighbours.  It  is  not 
more  astonishing  than  lamentable,  that  any  of  the  descen- 
dants of  PEN  N,  the  wise  and  benevolent  founder,  should  al- 
low of  such  deviations  from  his  illustrious  example  and  con- 
duct toward  the  Indians,  and  in  the  final  prostration  of  the 
power  and  loss  of  the  property  of  the  family  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, has  been  remarkably  verified  the  prophetic  warning  of 
their  great  and  good  ancestor.  In  a  letter  written  by  him 
in  1682,  after  showing  the  happy  effects  which  would  result 
if  the  inhabitants  of  this  province  and  their  descendants,  ad- 
hered to  "  Justice,  mercy,  equity  and  the  fear  if  the  Lord" 
he  exhibits  the  affecting  contrast  that  must  be  produced  by 
the  disregard  of  those  solemn  duties,  "if  not  (said  he) 
<c  their  heirs,  and  my  heirs  too,  will  lose  all,  and  desolation  iCiU 
foUoioP 


79 

its  affairs.     In  the  prosecution  of  his  duty  in 
that  capacity,  he  attended  several  conferences 


The  unremitted  exertions  of  the  " Friendly  Association" 
in  carrying-  on  the  purposes  of  its  establishment,  were  anxila- 
ry  to  the  laudable  efforts  in  the  same  cause  of  the  provincial 
legislature,  and  consequently  the  society  experienced  the  op- 
posing influence  of  the  executive  department  of  the  govern- 
ment. But  being"  protected  by  the  strength  of  the  public 
feeling  in  favour  of  humanity  and  justice,  it  was  not  only 
regardless  of  proprietary  assault,  but  firmly  and  boldly  re- 
monstrated against  their  measures,  by  addressing  the  go- 
vernors and  their  principals  themselves.  The  association 
expended  in  presents  of  clothing,  &c.  to  the  natives,  during 
seven  years  of  its  existence,  upwards  of  fifteen  thousand 
dollars,  which  sum  had  been  voluntarily  supplied  by  dona- 
tions of  the  members.  In  the  year  1757,  beside  other  proofs 
of  its  regard  for  the  Indians,  and  in  order  that  they  might  be 
possessed  of  an  object  which  would  frequently  remind  them 
of  the  intentions  of  their  friends,  the  association  had  a  medal 
designed  and  struck,  bearing  an  appropriate  device  and  mot- 
to, which  was  distributed  among  them.  Perhaps  an  apology 
may  be  necessary  for  introducing  a  representation  of  this 
medal*  in  a  volume  of  memoirs  of  Anthony  Benezet,  but  as 


*  See  Frontispiece. 


80 

which  were  held  with  the  Indians  in  their  own 
country,  cheerfully  enduring  the  fatigue,  priva- 


he  was  interested  in  its  execution,  and  as  it  is  a  prominent 
fact  in  the  history  of  an  institution  to  which  he  was  strong- 
ly attached,  the  preservation  in  this  place  of  this  primitive 
memorial,  may  not  be  entirely  irrelative.  The  following  let- 
ter, though  not  written  with  a  view  to  its  publication,  will 
authenticate  the  genuine  origin  of  the  die,*  from  an  impres- 
sion of  which  the  engraving  is  taken. 


"Philadelphia,  Sixth  Month,  12th,  1813. 
«« The  impressions  which  I  now  respectfully  offer  for  thy 
acceptance,  are  from  dies  that  have  long  been  in  possession 
of  my  predecessor  and  myself;  at  the  early  time  they  were 
engraved,  coining  presses  were  unknown  in  this  country, 
they  were  therefore  cut  on  punches,  fixed  in  a  socket,  and 
struck  with  a  sledge  hammer.  The  Indian  medal  of  1757, 
was  struck  at  the  expense  of  a  society  (chiefly  composed  of 
Friends)  formed  in  Philadelphia,  for  the  express  purpose  of 


*  The  die  was  engraved  in  Philadelphia,  by  Edward  Duf- 
field,  and  cost  the  society  fifteen  pounds. 


81 

tion  and  exposure  consequent  to  travelling  in  a 
J?art  of  the  province  then  almost  a  wilderness. 
He  also  early  saw,  and  suggested  the  propriety 
of  endeavouring  to  convey  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  forest,  the  knowledge  of  agriculture  and  do- 


promoting  peace  with  the  Indian  tribes.  The  appropriate 
inscription  on  the  reverse  is  truly  characteristic,  and  will 
serve  to  convey  to  posterity,  a  just  idea  of  the  men  of  influ- 
ence in  those  days.  I  remember  well  the  striking  of  the  In- 
dian medal  by  my  father,f  it  was  executed  in  silver,  and 
presented  to  the  Indians  by  the  society. 

"  Although  this  medal  may  at  present  be  thought  of  little 
value,  I  have  no  doubt  in  a  future  day,  it  will  be  considered 
as  interesting,  not  only  from  the  occasion  for  which  it  was 
struck,  but  as  it  may  serve  to  show  the  progress  of  the  arts 
in  our  country. 

«  Thy  friend, 

"JOSEPH  RICHARDSON. 
"To  Thomas  Wistar." 


f  Joseph  Richardson,  the  elder,   was  a  member  of  the 
Friendly  Association,  and  by  profession  a  silversmith. 


82 

mestic  arts,  and,  as  will  be  subsequently  seen, 
directed  by  his  will  that  a  part  of  his  estate 
should  be  applied  to  the  education  of  Indian 
children ;  these  he  conceived  to  be  the  most  ju- 
dicious preparatory  measures  for  leading  the 
minds  of  the  aborigines  to  the  substantial  bles- 
sings of  christian  virtue. 

In  the  midst  of  these  various  and  important 
avocations,  a  call  was  made  upon  his  active  be- 
nevolence from  a  quarter,  and  of  a  nature  the 
most  novel  and  unexpected.  But  ever  prepared 
to  dispense  good,  he  obeyed  the  summons  with 
promptitude  and  cheerfulness.  It  was  a  duty 
no  less  formidable  than  that  of  extending  pro- 
tection and  care  to  a  considerable  part  of  a  colo- 
ny of  people,  whose  condition  was  deplorably 
wretched,  and  wholly  friendless.  Previously  to 
giving  an  account  of  his  unremitted  attentions  to 
these  unhappy  exiles,  it  may  be  proper  to  fur- 
nish a  brief  notice  of  their  history  and  charac- 
ter, and  of  the  most  extraordinary  and  unjustifia- 
ble measures  which  terminated  in  their  banish- 
ment. These  helpless  strangers  were  a  portion 
of  the  descendants  of  those  French  inhabitants  of 
Nova  Scotia,  who  after  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  in 


83 

1713,  by  which  the  province  was  ceded  to  En- 
gland, were  permitted  to  hold  their  lands,  on 
condition  of  making  a  declaration  of  allegiance 
to  their  new  sovereign,  which  acknowledgment 
of  fidelity  was  given  under  an  express  stipulation 
that  they  and  their  posterity  should  not  be  re- 
quired to  bear  arms,  either  against  their  Indian 
neighbours  or  transatlantic  countrymen.  This 
contract  was  at  several  subsequent  periods  revi- 
ved, and  renewed  to  their  children;  and  such 
was  the  notoriety  of  the  compact,  that  for  half  a 
century  they  bore  the  name,  and  with  some  few 
exceptions  maintained  the  character  of  neutrals. 
They  were  a  people  remarkable  for  their  piety 
and  mildness  of  disposition ;  were  frugal  and  in- 
dustrious ;  strongly  attached  to  the  French  mo- 
narch, and  unalterably  devoted  to  the  Catholic 
religion. 

During  the  war  of  1755,  some  of  the  young 
neutrals  were  detected  in  conveying  intelligence 
to  the  Indian  and  French  forces,  then  acting 
against  the  province.  This  defection  greatly  in- 
censed the  British  commander,  and  produced  a 
determination  to  punish  the  whole  fraternity  by 
the  confiscation  of  their  property,  and  the  banish- 


84 

ment  ©f  their  persons  to  different  places  along 
the  sea  coast,  from  Massachusetts  bay  to  South 
Carolina.     When   the   period  had  arrived  for 
carrying  this  cruel  purpose  into  execution,  an 
order  was  issued  requiring  the  neutrals  to  assem- 
ble at  the  different  ports,  under  the  specious  pre- 
text of  then  having  communicated  to  them  some 
important,  and  valuable  information.    The  un- 
suspecting Acadian s,  utterly  ignorant  of  the  des- 
tiny that  awaited  them,  were  obedient  to  the  re- 
quisition, and  when  collected  at  the  time  and 
places  appointed,  they  were  informed  that  their 
lands  were   forfeited  to  the  crown,   that  they 
themselves  were  prisoners,  and  were  to  be  im- 
mediately removed  from  the  province.     Vessels 
being  in  readiness  to  convey  them  away,  they 
were  ordered  on  board.     A  scene  of  distress,  and 
confusion  ensued;  the  military  who  had  been 
purposely  kept  concealed  until  now,  made  their 
appearance,  and  the  embarkation  was  soon  ef- 
fected at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  between  two  and  three  hundred,  who 
escaped  and  sought  refuge  in  the  neighbouring 
forests.     Toward  those  who  fled,   all  possible 
measures  were  adopted  to  coerce  them  back  to 


85 

captivity,  the  country  was  laid  waste,  to  prevent- 
their  subsistence,  and  many  of  them  were  shot, 
and  otherwise  perished.  This  community  at 
the  time  of  this  disastrous  event,  amounted  to 
almost  seven  thousand  persons,  but  the  exast 
number  who  were  banished,  cannot  be  accurate- 
ly ascertained,*  upwards  of  one  thousand  of 
them  were  sent  to  Massachusetts  bay,  and  about 
five  hundred  to  Philadelphia, 

The  melancholy  story  of  their  sufferings, 
would  have  awakened  compassion  in  the  most 
obdurate  heart,  and  intensely  acute  must  have 
been  the  feelings  of  Benezet,  when  introduced 
to  the  knowledge  of  their  dreadful  fate.  He 
at  once  adopted  them  as  his  children,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  employ  every  exertion  in  his  power  to 
soften  the  rigour  of  their  condition.  As  he  was 
enabled  to  converse  with  them  in  their  own 
language,  it  facilitated  their  necessary  inter- 
course with  the  inhabitants,  whilst  it  was  a  cir- 
cumstance that  could  not  but  have  mitigated 
their  sorrows,  since  they  had  found  in  him, 
not  only  a  friend  who  yielded  them  all  the  com- 
fort and  consolation  he  could  bestow,  but  an  in- 
terpreter, who  was  qualified  and  willing  to  hear, 
j 


86 

and  make  known  the  history  of  their  afflictions. 
On  their  disembarkation,  the  neutrals  were 
taken  charge  of  by  the  conservators  of  the  poor, 
and  conveyed  to  a  building  which  had  been  occu- 
pied as  a  lodging  for  soldiers.  Many  of  them 
were  labouring  under  disease,  some  were  en- 
feebled by  their  crowded  condition  and  the  scanty 
fare  of  the  passage,  others  were  disconsolate  in 
consequence  of  being  separated  from  their  near- 
est connexions, .whilst  all  were  dejected  with  the 
striking  reverse,  of  their  former  comforts  and 
independence.  Though  the  funds  for  their  sup- 
port were  for  a  time  supplied  from  the  public 
purse,  Anthony  Benezet  undertook  to  provide 
for  their  subsistence,  in  the  purchase  and  distri- 
bution of  every  thing  which  they  required.  To 
the  sick  and  dying,  he  administered  relief,  so 
long  as  human  exertion  was  availing,  or  could 
hope  for  success,  and  when  death  terminated  the 
sufferings  of  any  of  them,  he  would  perform  the 
last  office  of  respect  to  their  remains.  The  in- 
convenient construction  of  the  barracks,  as  well 
as  want  of  room  in  them,  being  ill  suited  to  their 
accommodation,  he  solicited  permission  of  his 
friend,  the  late  pious  Samuel  Emlen,  to  occupy 


87 

part  of  a  square  of  ground  owned  by  him  in  the 
south  western  section  of  Philadelphia,  with 
buildings  for  the  residence  of  the  neutrals.  The 
grant  being  promptly  made,  Benezet  proceeded 
to  collect  subscriptions,  and  was  soon  enabled  to 
purchase  materials  and  erect  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  small  houses,  to  which  they  were  imme- 
diately removed.  The  supply  from  the  public 
treasury  ceasing  on  their  change  of  situation,  he 
was  obliged  to  devise  modes  of  employment  for 
them  to  procure  a  livelihood  $  and  among  va- 
rious occupations,  to  which  he  directed  their  at- 
tention, was  the  manufacture  of  wooden  shoes 
and  linsey  cloth ;  the  material  for  the  composi- 
tion of  the  latter  article,  was  principally  obtained 
by  their  gathering  rags  from  the  streets  of  the 
city,  which  they  washed,  and  otherwise  prepar- 
ed for  the  purpose.  In  addition  to  the  personal 
services  thus  rendered,  he  paid  out  of  his  small 
income  annuities  to  several  of  the  most  ancient 
and  helpless.  It  is  related  of  him  among  other 
proofs  of  his  kindness  toward  them,  that  his 
wife,  having  made  unsuccessful  search  for  a  pair 
of  blankets  which,  she  had  recently  purchas- 
ed for  the  use  of  the  family,  came  into  the  room 


88 

where  her  husband  was  writing,  and  expressing 
some  surprise  as  to  what  could  have  become  of 
them,  his  attention  was  arrested,  and  when  he  un- 
derstood the  cause  of  her  uneasiness,  «  Oh!  (said 
he)"  my  dear,  I  gave  them  some  evenings  since,  to 
one  of  the  poor  neutrals."  Thus,  for  several 
years  he  devoted  himself  to  the  advancement  of 
the  interests  of  those  people,  who  by  death,  and 
Removal  to  different  places,  were  ultimately  re- 
duced to  a  very  small  number.  Such  was  his 
assiduity  and  care  of  them,  that  it  produced  a 
jealousy  in  the  mind  of  one  of  the  oldest  men 
among  them,  of  a  very  novel  and  curious  descrip- 
tion; which  was  communicated  to  a  friend  of  Be- 
nezet's,  to  whom  he  said,  "  it  is  impossible  that 
all  this  kindness  is  disinterested ;  Mr.  Benezet 
must  certainly  intend  to  recompense  himself  by 
treaeherouvh)  selling  us."  When  their  patron 
and  protector  was  informed  of  this  ungrateful 
suspicion,  it  was  so  far  from  producing  an  emo- 
tion of  anger,  or  an  expression  of  indignation, 
that  he  lifted  up  his  hands,  and  laughed  immo- 
derately. 

The  following  extract  from  a  memorial  to 
the  king  of  Great  Britain,  which  was  prepar- 


89 

ed  soon  after  their  arrival  in  Philadelphia,  and 
no  doubt  drafted  at  the  request  of  the  neutrals 
by  their  friend  Benezct,  will  corroborate  the 
history  of  their  sufferings,  in  their  own  manner 
of  relating  it. 


M  Thus  we,  our  ancient  parents,  and  grand 
parents  (men  of  great  integrity,  and  approved 
fidelity  to  your  majesty)  and  our  innocent  wives 
and  children  became  the  unhappy  victims  to 
those  groundless  fears  :  we  were  transported  in- 
to the  English  colonies,  and  this  was  done  in 
so  much  haste,  and  with  so  little  regard  to  our 
necessities,  and  the  tenderest  ties  of  nature,  that 
from  the  most  social  enjoyments  and  affluent 
circumstances,  many  found  themselves  destitute 
of  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  separated  parents 
from  children  and  husbands  from  wives,  some  of 
whom  have  not  to  this  day  met  again.  We  were 
so  crowded  in  the  transport  vessels,  that  we  had 
not  room  even  for  all  our  bodies  to  lay  down  at 
once,  and  consequently  wefe  prevented  from 
carrying  with  us  proper  necessaries  especially 
i  % 


90 

for  the  comfort,  and  support  of  the  aged  and 
weak,  many  of  whom  quickly  ended  their  mise- 
ry with  their  lives.  And  even  those  amongst  us 
Who  had  suffered  deeply  from  your  majesty,  on 
account  of  their  attachment  to  your  majesty, 
were  equally  involved  in  the  common  calamity, 
of  which  Rene-Lablane  the  notary  puhlic  be- 
forementioned,  is  a  remarkable  instance.  He 
was  seized,  confined,  and  brought  away  among 
the  rest  of  the  people,  and  his  family  consist- 
ing of  twenty  children,  and  about  one  hundred 
and  Jifty  grand  children,  were  scattered  in  dif- 
ferent colonies,  so  that  he  was  put  on  shore  at 
New  York  with  only  his  wife  and  two  young- 
est children,  in  an  infirm  state  of  health,  from 
whence  he  joined  three  more  of  his  children  at 
Philadelphia,  where  he  died  without  any  more 
notice  being  taken  of  him  than' any  of  us,  not- 
withstanding his  many  years  labour,  and  deep 
suffering  for  your  majesty's  service.  The  mise- 
ries we  have  since  endured,  are  scarce  sufficient- 
ly to  be  expressed,  being  reduced  for  a  livelihood 
to  toil  and  hard  labour,  in  a  southern  clime,  so 
disagreeable  to  our  constitutions,  that  most  of 
us  have  been  prevented  by  sickness  from  pro- 


91 

curing  the  necessary  subsistence  for  our  fami- 
lies, and  therefore  are  threatened  with  that 
which  we  esteem  the  greatest  aggravation  of  all 
our  sufferings,  even  of  having  our  children  forced 
from  us  and  bound  out  to  strangers,  and  exposed 
to  contagious  distempers  unknown  in  our  native 
country.  This,  compared  with  the  affluence  and 
ease  we  enjoyed,  shows  our  condition  to  be  ex- 
tremely wretched.  We  have  already  seen  in 
this  province  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  our  people, 
half  the  number  that  were  landed  here,  perish 
through  misery  and  various  diseases." 


In  1756,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  overseers 
•f  the  m  public  schools,  founded  by  charter  from 
William  Penn,  in  the  town  and  county  of  Phila- 
delphia," but  two  years  after,  entering  into  the 
service  of  the  board,  as  a  teacher,  his  delicacy 
induced  him  to  resign  the  office. 

The  "  contributors  to  the  Pennsylvania  Hos- 
pital" elected  him  a  manager  of  that  institution 
in  1757.  He  served  the  term  for  which  he  was* 
appointed,  and  declined  a  re-election3  not  in  con- 


92 

sequence  of  an  indisposition  to  yield  his  services 
to  the  establishment,  but  because  his  benevolent 
operations  were  of  so  general  a  nature,  as  to  ren- 
der it  inconvenient  for  him  to  discharge  the  spe- 
cific duties  of  the  station. 

He  was  never  known  to  interfere  with  the  af- 
fairs of  state,  except  when  he  w  as  desirous  that 
its  energies  should  be  exerted  for  promoting  the 
happiness  of  his  fellow  creatures.  If  however, 
he  had  occasion  to  solicit  persons  in  power  for 
such  purposes,  he  was  indefatigable  in  his  exer- 
tions to  attain  the  object  in  view.  During  the 
sitting  of  the  legislature  in  1780,  a  session  me- 
morable for  the  enaction  of  a  law  which  com- 
menced the  gradual  abolition  of  slavery  in 
Pennsylvania,  he  had  private  interviews  on  the 
subject,  with  every  member  of  the  government, 
and  no  doubt  thus  essentially  contributed  to  the 
adoption  of  that  celebrated  measure. 
/  His  agency  in  arresting  a  number  of  kidnap- 
ped black  people  on  their  passage  from  New  Jer- 
sey through  Philadelphia,  toward  one  of  the 
southern  states,  and  whose  claim  to  freedom  by 
his  perseverance  was  ultimately  established, 
gave  rise  to  a  society  for  the  relief  of  free  ne- 


93 

groes  unlawfully  held  in  bondage,  since  incor- 
porated with  ample  authority,  and  over  the  de- 
liberations of  which  have  successively  presided 
Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  James  Pemberton,  Dr. 
Benjamin  Rush  and  Dr.  Caspar  Wistar. 

Among  the  numerous  productions  of  his  fer- 
tile philanthropy  was  a  plan  which  he  conceiv- 
ed to  prevent  an  oppressive  landlord  from  dis- 
training for  rent  the  stove  of  an  indigent  tenant ; 
a  bill  predicated  upon  his  suggestion  was  intro- 
duced to  the  general  assembly  of  the  common- 
wealth by  Miers  Fisher,  then  a  member  of  that 
body,  which  became  a  law. 

Besides  other  topics  of  a  benevolent  nature 
which  were  introduced  by  him  during  an  inter- 
view with  the  marquis  Chattellux,  near  the 
termination  of  the  military  services  of  that  offi- 
cer in  America,  in  the  war  of  the  revolution, 
was  an  inquiry  respecting  the  method  invented 
in  Europe  for  restoring  persons  supposed  to  be 
drowned.  This  application  induced  the  mar- 
quis to  promise  him  not  only  a  written  account 
of  the  practice  adopted  by  his  countrymen,  but 
also  a  box  of  apparatus  such  as  'were  used  in  the 
sea  ports  of  France,  both  which  he  accordingly 


94 

sent.  This  information  arrived  about  the  time 
when  a  society  was  formed  in  Philadelphia,  for 
the  humane  purpose  of  endeavouring  to  recover 
suspended  animation  occasioned  by  immersion  in 
water,  and  imparted  much  instruction  to  the 
newly  organized  association. 

These  are  some  of  the  most  prominent  features 
in  what  may  be  termed  the  public  life  of  Anthony 
Benezet ;  let  us  now  contemplate  him  in  a  less 
extended  sphere  of  action.  Private  character, 
he  does  not  appear  to  have  had  ;  it  is  almost  im- 
possible to  discover  a  line,  which  separated  his 
pursuits,  or  abstracted  his. mind,  from  the  great 
purpose  for  which  he  seems  to  have  lived,  the 
good  of  his  species.  Asa  member  of  the  reli- 
gious society  of  Friends,  his  labours  were  highly 
valuable  and  important.  The  profession  which 
he  made  of  Christianity  was  never  contradicted 
by  his  precepts,  nor  sullied  by  his  practice.  Un- 
bounded in  his  charity,  his  great  aim  was  to  dis- 
cover some  favourable  symptom  in  the  disposi- 
tions of  those  whose  course  was  devious,  and  that 
when  discerned,  he  cherished  with  pious  solici- 
tude :  his  access  to  the  most  erring  of  his  breth- 
ren and  others,  was  always  easy,  and  where  hu- 
man efforts  could  be  instrumental  to  reclaim  of- 


95 

fenders,  the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  as  it  flowed  to- 
ward such  through  his  heart,  seldom  failed  of 
gaining  victory.  The  fundamental  doctrines 
of  religion  as  they  were  taught  by  the  Re- 
deemer of  mankind  himself,  comprised  his  creed, 
regulated  his  conduct,  administered  to  the  purest 
of  his  earthly  enjoyments,  and  constituted  the 
basis  on  which  rested  his  hope  of  future  felicity. 
He  often  said,  that  the  memorable  sermon  utter- 
ed upon  the  mount,  taught  enough  to  occupy  the 
attention  of  the  sincere  in  heart,  and  if  duly  re- 
garded, its  lessons  would  ensure  the  present,  and 
everlasting  welfare  of  men. 

He  deprecated  whatever  had  a  tendency  to  de- 
coy the  mind  from  those  plain  and  simple  mani- 
festations of  duty  which  are  mercifully  afforded 
by  the  deity  for  promoting  the  happiness  of  his 
accountable  creation.  Consequently  he  did  not 
hesitate  to  disapprove  of  all  theological  disquisi- 
tions on  abstruse  and  doubtful  points.  His  opin- 
ion on  this  subject  is  thus  clearly  and  fully  stated 
in  one  of  his  note  books. 


"I  have  often  much  wished  the  enlightened 
William  Law,  had  not  launched  out  in  some  mat- 


96 

ters  which  I  apprehend  tend  more  to  employ  the 
natural  activity  of  the  mind,  than  to  centre  his 
readers,  as  his  other  writings  do,  in  a  childlike 
humble  state  of  watching  a  prayer  for  Divine  aid, 
from  a  feeling  sense  of  the  depth  of  their  misery, 
and  inability  to  redeem  themselves.     Indeed  if 
this  humble  disposition,  which  in  all  its  religious 
motions  seeks  solely  the  honour  of  God,  and  the 
good  of  mankind,  had  been  more  prevalent,  true 
christian  charity  would  have  been  better  main- 
tained, with  respect  to  these  particular  opinions, 
which  have  of  late  caused  so  much  unprofitable 
debate  amongst  us.     I  know  some  think  great 
advantage  will  arise  from  people's  having  what 
is  called  right  ideas  of  God ;  and  that  those  opin- 
ions are  productive  of  much  tenderness  and  charity 
in  the  minds  of  such  who  adopt  them ;  but  has  this 
indeed  been  the  case  ?  have  the  meekness  and 
gentleness  of  Christ  been  more  apparent  in  those 
who  have  been  zealous  advocates  for  this  opinion, 
than   in   other  people?   Ideas  however  exalted 
they  may  appear,  except  impressed  on  the  mind 
by  truth,  are  still  but  bare  ideas,  and  can  have  no 
influence  in  subduing  that  love  of  the  world,  that 
carnality  of  mind,  that  obduracy  of  heart,  and 


97 


principally  that  poisonous  idolatry  of  self,  so  apt, 
under  one  subtle  form  or  another,  to  insinuate 
itself  even  in  the  hearts  of  such  as  have  already 
made  some  good  advances  in  religion." 


Having  lived  during  that  interesting  period, 
when  the  religious  community  to  which  he  be- 
longed was  occupied  with  those  considerations 
which  led  to  its  purification  from  the  iniquity  of 
slavery,  he  took  an  active  part  in  promoting 
that  righteous  work.  His  ardent  and  pathetic 
communications  on  this  subject,  in  the  select  as- 
semblies of  his  brethren,  were  powerful  and  ir- 
resistible. He  awakened  the  unconcerned,  con- 
firmed the  wavering,  and  infused  energy  into  the 
most  zealous.  On  one  occasion,  during  the  an- 
nual convention  of  the  society  at  Philadelphia, 
when  that  body  was  engaged  on  the  subject  of 
slavery,  as  it  related  to  its  own  members,  some 
of  whom  had  not  wholly  relinquished  the  prac- 
tice of  keeping  negroes  in  bondage,  a  difference 
of  sentiment  was  manifested  as  to  the  course 
which  ought  to  be  pursued.  For  a  moment  it 
appeared  doubtful  which  opinion  would  prepon- 


98 


derate.  At  this  critical  juncture,  Benezet  left 
his  seat,  which  was  in  an  obscure  part  of  the 
house,  and  presented  himself  weeping  at  an  ele- 
vated door  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  congre- 
gation, whom  he  thus  addressed,  "Ethiopia 
shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God;"* 
he  said  no  more :  under  the  solemn  impression 
which  succeeded  this  emphatic  quotation,  the 
proposed  measure  received  the  united  sanction 
©f  the  assembly.  J 

About  the  year  1770,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
important  station  of  an  elder,  the  delicate  and  in- 
teresting duties  of  which  he  was  peculiarly  quali- 
fied to  fulfil.  He  was  especially  desirous  that  the 
society  should  sustain  the  character  for  plainness 
and  moderation  which  had  distinguished  its  ori- 
gin, and  was  often  occupied  in  communicating 
such  counsel  and  advice,  as  would  promote  that 
object.  He  saw  that  the  accumulation  of  wealth 
among  his  fellow  members,  induced  habits  and 
associations,  which  were  often  fatal  to  their 
maintenance  of  primitive  simplicity,  and  it  was  a 
primary  duty  with  him  to  dissuade  them  from 
the  inordinate  pursuit  of  secular  occupations. 

*  Psalms  lxviii.  31. 


He  conceived  it  to  be  derogatory  to  the  dignity 
of  the  human  mind,  if  its  energies  sought  no 
other  exercise  than  that  which  immersed  it  ia 
selfishness,  a  disposition  which  more  than  any 
other  he  held  to  be  opposed  to  the  proper  use  of 
its  noble  endowments,  and  subversive  of  the  ex- 
alted happiness  of  which,  in  futurity,  it  was  de- 
signed to  partake.  In  1780,  he  published,  ia 
English  and  French,  a  book,  entitled  "  JL  Short 
Account  of  the  Religious  Society  of  Friends, 
commonly  called  (Quakers."  This  work  was  es- 
teemed the  best  succinct  view  of  the  principles, 
as  well  as  discipline  and  economy  of  the  society, 
that  had  appeared.3*  In  the  concluding  observa- 
tions of  the  author,  it  is  clearly  shown  upoa 
what  ground  he  believed  the  doctrines  which 
they  profess  could  be  upheld  with  purity  and 
effect. 


"  If,"  (says  he)  "  upon  observing  the  conduct 
of  many  who  profess  to  be  of  this  religious  socie- 
ty, any  should  be  ready  to  take  offence  at  the 

*  A  more  enlarged  work  of  the  kind  has  recently  proceed- 
ed from  the  pen  of  Jesse  Kersey. 


100 

gveat  deviation  which  may  appear  from  those 
principles  set  forth  in  the  foregoing  account,  let 
them  consider,  that  the  human  heart,  in  its  fail- 
en  state,  is  prone  to  evil,  and  by  joining  there* 
with  it  may  gradually  become  very  corrupt; 
that  a  real  change  thereof  is  not  gained  by 
birthright,  or  a  mere  association  with  any  peo- 
ple, but  only  by  submission  to  and  a  humble  abi- 
ding under  the  cross  of  Christ ;  thus  the  sincere 
and  faithful  among  them,  who  are  daily  exerci- 
sed in  labouring  to  have  their  wills  brought  in  all 
things  into  a  conformity  with  the  Divine  will, 
knowing  that  nothing  lfi*s  than  this  will  entitle* 
to  membership  in  the  true  church,  the  Bride  the 
Lamb's  wife,  they  often  find  a  necessity  laid  up- 
on them,  to  bear  their  testimony  against  the  sub- 
tle delusive  spirit  of  the  world  in  its  various  ap- 
pearances, and  also  to  press  their  fellow  mem- 
bers in  religious  profession,  not  to  rest  contented 
in  the  regular  observance  of  any  form,  or  the 
bare  acknowledgment  of  any  principles,  but  to 
strive  to  become  acquainted  with  the  operation 
of  the  Spirit  of  Truth  in  themselves,  and  closely 
adhere  to  its  monitions  and  guidance  as  the  only 
safe  path  through  this  life,  and  tlis  foundation  of 


101 

an  unshaken  hope  of  a  blessed  enjoyment  in  that 
which  is  to  come.  Therefore,  may  every  tender 
inquirer  after  the  right  way,  not  look  out  at  the 
conduct  of  others,  nor  place  their  dependance 
upon  any  man ;  but  carefully  attend"  to  the  open- 
ings and  leadings  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their  own 
minds,  and  as  they  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord, 
they  will  be  brought  to  a  degree  of  the  same 
experience  with  the  apostle  ;  we  know  that  the 
son  of  God  is  come,  and  hath  given  us  an  under- 
standing that  we  may  know  him  that  is  true, 
and  we  are  in  him  that  is  true,  even  in  his  son 
Jesus  Clirist.  This  is  the  true  God  and  eternal 
life." 


His  reasons  in  support  of  the  peculiarity  of 
some  of  the  practices  of  the  society,  as  being 
consistent  with  scripture  authority,  were  illus- 
trated in  a  small  work  wliieh  he  published  yx 
1782,  entitled,  «  On  the  plainness,  and  innocent 
simplicity  of  the  christian  religion." 

In  addition  to  his  own  opinions  on  the  sub- 
jects upon  which  he  wrote,  and  which  he  con:- 
ceived  it  to  fee  his  duty  to  print  and  distribute; 
&2 


102 

lie  was  often  engaged  in  selecting  and  compi- 
ling sentiments  from  various  authors,  the  moral 
and  religious  tendency  of  which,  he  believed 
might  prove  beneficial.  These  tracts  he  would 
himself  industriously  circulate,  and  when  he 
heard  of  his  acquaintance  or  others,  who  were 
about  to  travel,  he  enlisted  their  services  to 
spread  his  pamphlets  ;  «  esteeming  it"  (he  said) 
« indeed  a  favour,  in  this  self  pleasing  age9  if 
people  will  but  give  them  a  serious  perusal." 

He  would  frequently  present  his  friends  with 
copies  of  his  essays  as  soon  as  they  appeared, 
and  those  occasions  were  embraced  to  convey  to 
them  the  feelings  of  his  mind.  The  subjoined 
notes  written  for  that  purpose,  exhibit  the 
amiable  manner  in  which  he  discharged  sueh 
affectionate  duties. 


<*  To  H.  H. 

« I  herewith  send  a  couple  of  pamphlets,  the 
.perusal  of  which,  will  I  hope  be  agreeable  to 
thyself,  and  my  kind  friend  thy  spouse.  We  are 
$*  liable  in  this  frail  state  of  existence  to  suffer 


103 

our  minds  even  imperceptibly  to  be  so  much  en-« 
grossed  with  the  trifles  of  life,  and  indeed  its 
fears  as  well  as  its  joys  may  be  truly  so  termed, 
when  compared  with  the  solemn  scenes  which 
lay  before  us,  that  I  trust  any  thing  which  may 
tend  to  call  us  back  to  ourselves  cannot  be 
taken  but  in  good  part,  from  those  whose  de- 
sires we  are  persuaded  are  sincere  for  our  best 
welfare.  How  sweet,  says  the  pious  Rrainard, 
when  near  his  end,  how  sweet  is  a  spirit  of  de- 
votion, a  spirit  of  seriousness  and  Divine  so- 
lemnity, a  spirit  of  gospel  simplicity,  of  love 
and  tenderness.  How  vastly  superior  are  the 
pleasure,  peace,  and  satisfaction  derived  from 
these  Divine  frames  to  that  which  we  some- 
times pursue  in  things  vain  and  trifling;  indeed 
our  own  better  experience  teaches  us,  that  in  the 
midst  of  such  laughter  the  heart  is  sorrowful, 
and  that  there  is  no  true  satisfaction  but  in  God. 

"  Your  real  friend, 

"ANTHONY  BENEZETV' 


104 

«  To  Dr. of  Wilmington. 

« I  am  persuaded  my  kind  friend  thou  wflf; 
excuse  this  freedom.  But  a  good  opportunity 
offering,  I  take  the  liberty  to  enclose  a  few  pam- 
phlets. They  contain  some  serious  items  on  the 
solemn  truths  of  our  holy  religion.  That  at 
the  beginning  is  worthy  of  notice  as  well  for 
the  weight  as  the  great  importance  of  it.  The 
small  tract  at  the  end  may  tend  to  remove  some 
mistaken  prejudices  which  too  often  prevail  for 
want  of  due  information.  The  other  tracts, 
though  wrote  by  persons  differing  in  circum* 
stantial  matters,  yet  all  agree  in  enforcing 
the  amendment  of  the  heart,  the  only  end  and 
aim  of  the  gospel,  yet  so  expressed  as  not  to 
infringe  that  charity  (i.  e.  the  love  of  Christ) 
which  is  the  distinguishing  badge  of  Christian- 
ity. I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  of  thy  welfare ;  and 
in  that  great  circle  which  is  not  limited  by  par- 
ty or  country,  but  with  cordiality  of  affection 
embraces  the  whole  creation, 

*«  I  salute  thee,  and  remain  tjhy  friend, 

«  ANTHONY  BENEZET." 


10£ 

The  expense  of  printing  being  defrayed  from 
feis  own  purse,  and  deriving  no  pecuniary  com- 
pensation from  his  publications,  together  with 
}ris  great  liberality  in  other  respects,  produced 
in  the  minds  of  some  of  his  friends  a  fear,  lest 
he  should  forget  his  own  wants  in  the  dispensa- 
tion of  his  income.  This  idea  being  once  sug- 
gested to  him,  he  said  "I  lose  nothing  by  doing 
so.  I  once  sent  to  a  religious  man  in  JVort/i 
Carolina,  with  whom  I  had  no  personal  ac- 
quaintance, a  number  of  my  tracts,  and  at  hi& 
death  it  was  found  he  had  bequeathed  to  me  his 
whole  estate,  which  amounted  to  one  hundred 
pounds." 

The  piety  and  integrity  of  Benezet's  charac- 
ter, were  such  as  to  excite  in  the  mind  of  every 
one  who  had  any  knowledge  of  him,  the  greatest 
respect ;  whilst  the  innocent  and  unreserved  af- 
fability of  his  manners,  rendered  his  association 
with  all  classes  of  society,  acceptable  and  agree- 
able. As  the  objects  which  engaged  his  atten- 
tion were  of  a  public  nature,  he  had  frequent 
interviews  with  individuals  of  distinction  in  the 
government,  whose  influence  he  wished  should 
lie  exerted  for  the  advancement  of  his  benevo- 


106  i 

lent  purposes.  By  such  he  was  uniformly  heard 
with  marked  attention,  and  from  them  he  re- 
ceived many  amiable  proofs  of  regard.  Soon 
after  the  arrival  of  the  count  de  Luzerne  at  Phi- 
ladelphia, in  the  character  of  ambassador  from 
the  court  of  Louis  XVI,  Anthony  Benezet,  anx- 
ious to  interest  his  feelings  on  the  subject  of  the 
slave  trade,  made  a  visit  to  the  minister,  and 
that  occasion  laid  the  foundation  of  a  cordial 
and  mutual  attachment.  As  long  as  the  count 
remained  in  the  United  States,  a  most  friendly 
intercourse  was  maintained  between  them,  and 
when  he  was  about  to  embark  for  France,  a  day 
being  assigned  for  taking  leave,  Benezet  con- 
ceived it  respectful  to  wait  upon  him.  On  his 
arrival  at  his  residence,  he  found  the  minister 
surrounded  by  numerous  guests,  who  were  be- 
stowing compliments  and  good  wishes  upon  him  : 
Benezet  retired,  unobserved,  to  a  corner  of  the 
room,  until  some  of  the  visitors  had  departed, 
and  when  an  opportunity  was  furnished,  he  pre- 
sented himself  before  him,  and  said,  "  thou 
knowest  I  cannot  use  the  compliments  which  the 
company  have  expressed,  hut  I  wish  thee  the  fa- 
vour of  Heaven,  and  a  safe  return  to  thy  com- 


try.39  Upon  which  the  count  exclaimed,  i(  0  / 
Mr.  Benezet,  you  have  exceeded  them  all ;"  at  the 
same  moment  embracing  and  kissing  him. 

He  was  remarkable  for  his  kind  and  conde- 
scending manner  toward  persons  much  youngeF 
than  himself,  especially  if  he  perceived  in  their 
character  any  promise  of  usefulness.  He  was 
often  heard  to  say  in  scriptural  phrase,  *  wis- 
dom is  gray  hairs,  and  an  unspotted  life  old 
age."  From  this  trait  of  a  really  great  mind, 
might  be  expected  to  proceed  every  amiable 
and  encouraging  effort,  to  render  the  talents  and 
dispositions  of  those,  with  whom  he  met,  sub- 
servient to  the  greatest  possible  benefit  to  his 
fellow  creatures.  Hence  it  was,  that  he  always 
sought  for,  and  seldom  failed  to  make  himself 
acquainted  with  some  feature  of  the  character, 
or  use  some  information  acquired  by  mingling 
among  men,  which  he  directed  to  a  salutary 
purpose.  An  interesting  proof  of  this  humble 
though  exalted  disposition  in  Anthony  Benezet, 
is  illustrated  in  the  notice  he  took  of  the  late 
pious  and  excellent  Jacob  Lindley,  when  he  was 
a  youth.  Lindley,  to  adopt  his  own  designation 
of  himself,  was  a  "stripling"  when  he  attended 


408 

a  yearly  meeting  of  Friends  held  at  Philadel- 
phia :  his  mind  had  heen  for  some  time  much 
afflicted  with  an  observation  of  the  pernicious 
effects  of  spirituous  liquors,  and  he  was  anxious 
that  the  religious  society  to  which  he  belonged, 
might  cease  to  use,  and  prevent  any  of  its  mem- 
bers from  being  instrumental  in  manufacturing 
or  vending  them.  He  therefore  rose  and  de- 
veloped his  feelings  to  the  assembly,  in  the  en- 
ergetic and  pathetic  manner  for  which  he  was 
peculiarly  remarkable.  When  the  meeting  ad- 
journed, he  observed  a  stranger  pressing  through 
the  crowd  towards  him,  which  having  effected, 
he  took  him  by  the  hand  in  the  most  affection- 
ate manner,  and  said,  "  my  dear  young  friend, 
I  was  very  glad  to  hear  thy  voice  on  the  sub- 
ject of  spirituous  liquors.  I  had  much  unity  with 
thy  concern,  and  hope  that  no  discouragement 
may  have  been  received  from  its  not  being  fur- 
ther noticed;  and  now  I  want  thee  to  go  home 
and  take  dinner  with  we,  having  something  fur- 
ther  to  say  to  thee  on  the  subject"  Lindley  ac- 
cepted the  invitation,  and  after  they  had  dined, 
Benezet  introduced  his  young  guest  into  a  little 
room  used  us  a  study,  where  he  produced  a 


109 

manuscript  work  on  the  subject  of  spirituous 
liquors  in  an  unfinished  state,  he  opened  the 
book  and  laid  it  on  a  table  before  them,  saying 
« this  is  a  treatise  which  I  have  been  for  some- 
time engaged  in  writing,  on  the  snbject  of  thy 
concern  in  meeting  to  day  ;  and  now  if  thou  hast 
a  mind  to  sit  down9  and  write  a  paragraph  or 
two,  I  will  embody  it  in  the  work,  and  have  it 
published." 

The  same  disinterested  goodness,  which  indu- 
ced him  to  respect  and  cherish  whatever  he  saw 
valuable  in  the  character  of  his  young  friends, 
led  him  also  to  disapprove  those  practices  which 
he  observed  any  of  them  in  the  indulgence  of,  as 
tending  to  render  such  less  useful  than  they 
migh^ otherwise  be,  and  their  example  injurious 
to  ofliers.  But  whether  exciting  to  good  works, 
or  reproving  for  what  he  conceived  to  be  impro- 
prieties, the  time  and  manner  were  always 
wisely  adapted  to  the  purpose.  Having  no  dog- 
ma of  his  own  formation  to  establish,  nor  any 
selfish  feeling  to  gratify,  the  means  which  he 
employed  for  promoting  the  welfare  of  others, 
were  uniformly  such  as  the  author  of  christiam- 
I. 


110 

ty  had  ordained,  for  accomplishing  the  great  end 
of  the  religion  of  love. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  furnish  a  more 
striking  example  of  the  delicate  and  forci- 
ble manner  adopted  by  him,  in  the  expression  of 
rebuke,  than  that  which  occurred  at  the  house 
of  one  of  his  female  acquaintance  sometime  af- 
ter her  marriage.  He  had  called  on  a  benevo- 
lent occasion,  and  though  his  young  friend  was  in 
full  dress  for  a  ball,  he  was  admitted ;  when  he 
beheld  her  gala  attire,  he  drew  himself  into 
an  attitude  of  surprise,  and  regret  was  marked 
in  his  unsophisticated  countenance  ;  he  exclaim- 
ed plaintively,  "  my  dear  £— — ,  I  should  not 
have  recognized  my  amiable  pupil,  but  that  thy 
well  knoivn  features ,  and  excellent  qualtyjgp,  are 
not  to  be  hidden  by  so  grotesque  and  lamenta- 
ble a  disguise;  thy  kind  and  compliant  temper 
has  yielded  at  some  expense  to  thy  heart,  to  the 
epinions  of  others,  and  I  love  thee  for  the  mo- 
tive, though  I  cannot  admire  tlie  evidence  of  it." 

The  subsequent  letters  will  also  establish  this 
predominant  disposition  of  his  mind ;  the  females 
to  whom  they  were  addressed,  were  at  the  date 
of  them,  in  the  morning  of  life. 


414 

«  To  E.G. 

"The  perusal  of  the  inclosed  serious  reflec- 
tions on  the  mournful  situation  of  things  amongst 
us,  will  I  trust  afford  thee  satisfaction,  and  I 
should  rejoice  if  they  might  have  any  tendency 
to  strengthen  those  good  inclinations  which  I 
am  persuaded  thy  own  good  sense,  as  well  as 
religious  views  will  suggest  of  the  impropriety 
©f  thy  giving  any  countenance  to  the  vain  and 
corrupting  dissipation  which  are  proposed  to  he 
soon  entered  upon  in  this  city,  in  which  thou 
wilt  doubtless  lie  pressingly  invited  to  join  in. 
My  near  affection,  and  long  connection  with  thy 
dear  father,  and  my  earnest  desire  for  thy  true 
welfare,  will  I  trust,  make  an  apology  for  this 
freedom  unnecessary.  From  the  same  principles 
I  cannot  but  much  desire  that  thou  wouldest 
let  us  have  thy  company  at  our  religious 
meetings,  as  I  suppose  our  mode  of  worship  is 
most  agreeable  to  thy  judgment.  It  would  cer- 
tainly furnish  thee  with  an  opportunity  of  gain- 
ing such  religious  strength,  as  might  the  bet- 
ter enable  thee  to  encounter  the  violent  attacks 
from  the  spirit  of  the  world,  which  thy  situation 
will  otherwise  expose  thee  to.    I   know  it  is 


112 

eommon  for  us  frail  mortals  to  plead  a  neces- 
sity of  complying  with  many  things  in  contradic- 
tion to  our  better  informed  religious  judgment, 
and  conclude  we  shall  keep  within  certain  limi- 
ted bounds.  But  alas  !  weakness  is  ours  ,•  it  is 
not  in  our  power  to  stem  the  torrent  when  once 
embarked  on  a  stream.  The  Almighty  will  not 
accept  of  a  divided  heart.  If  as  the  scripture 
says  the  "righteous  scarcely  are  saved,"  how 
can  we  expect  Divine  assistance,  it*  we  do  not 
through  watching  and  prayer,  exercise  the 
jyhol$  power  we  are  favoured  with?  Let  us 
dear  B.  by  a  generous  effort  of  that  reason,  en- 
lightened by  grace,  which  I  am  persuaded  thou 
hast  been  favoured  with,  break  through  the 
tinsel  scene  of  vanity  and  folly  that  surrounds 
us.  Let  the  wise  man's  advice  be  most  weighty 
with  us  ;  to  remember  our  latter  end  :  and  in 
every  thing  act  with  reference  to  that  awful 
period.  Let  us  view  things  as  they  will  appear 
lo  us  on  a  bed  of  languishment,  when  as  we 
then  cannot  afford  this  world's  votaries  any  far- 
ther profit  or  pleasure,  so  they  will  quite  for- 
sake us,  and  we  shall  be  left  to  our  own  pun- 
gent reflections,  and  the  eonverse  of  superior 


113 

beings,  administering  comfort,  or  the  contrary. 
At  such  a  time,  with  how  much  more  satisfac- 
tion will  we  have  to  reflect  upon  the  time  we 
have  spent  in  seeking  after  God,  in  worship,  or 
otherwise,  than  in  those  light,  and  frothy  con- 
versations, those  scenes  of  corrupting  dissi- 
pation, which  so  much  engross  the  minds,  and 
time  of  the  worldly* 

"  With  near  affection,  I  remain> 

«  ANTHONY  BENEZET." 


-To  S.N. 

"My  dear  — — ,   I  have   of  late  been 

much  engaged  in  thought ;  and  indeed  what  se- 
rious mind  can  refrain  from  mournful  reflec- 
tions, when  we  consider  on  the  one  hand,  the 
purity  of  our  profession*  and  on  the  other  have 
to  observe  the  general  behaviour  and  appear- 
ance of  our  young  women,  and  the  insensibility 
they  manifest  when  treated  with  on  these  im- 
portant subjects!  I  trust  my  dear  fjriemk  from. 


114? 

I 

the  apprehension  I  have  of  thy  sensibility,  and 

kind  disposition,  I  may  mention  my  thoughts  on 
this  most  interesting  subject,  with  expectation 
of  tender  sympathy  from  thee;  rather  than 
danger  of  giving  thee  any  offence.  I  have  re- 
membered the  apostle's  injunction,  *  that  chris- 
tian women  ought  to  be  arrayed  in  modest  ap- 
parel, not  costly,  but  with  sobriety  and  shame- 
facedness.'  I  have  also  had  to  think  of  the  na- 
ture of  the  gospel,  the  conduct,  dress,  food,  &c. 
of  him  who  was  greater  than  any  of  the  pro- 
phets, even  John,  the  forerunner  of  Christ  $  I 
have  remembered  the  birth  and  situation  of  our 
blessed  Saviour  himself,  his  submitting  to  the 
most  humbling  appearance,  even  to  be  laid  in  a 
manger,  and  when  grown  up,  declared  his  com- 
ing was  in  the  form  of  a  servant,  not  to  be  min- 
istered unto,  but  to  minister,  «  behold/  says  he, 
*I  am  amongst  you  as  one  that  serveth ;'  «  leav~ 
ing  us  an  example,'  saith  the  apostle,  <that 
we  should  follow  his  footsteps.5  But  how  dif- 
ferent from  the  example  of  our  Lord,  are  the 
conduct,  and  views  of  the  greatest  part  of  our 
young  people ;  notwithstanding  it  is  indispen- 
sably necessary,  that  such  as  are  desirous  to 


115 

follow  Christ  in  the  regeneration,  shoum  be- 
have in  their  clothing,  &e.  in  such  a  manner, 
as  will  best  enable  them  to  answer  the  sober 
ends  of  an  industrious,  frugal  life ;  a  life  of 
affection  and  care,  not  only  in  their  own  fami- 
lies, but  as  sisters  and  friends ;  as  nurses  spi- 
ritually and  temporally  to  many  who  may  suf- 
fer for*  want  of  their  assistance.  Doctor  Cave, 
in  his  account  of  the  first  christians,  tells  us, 
i  they  were  exceeding  careful  to  avoid  all  such 
things  as  savoured  of  costliness  and  finery, 
choosing  such  as  expressed  the  greatest  lowli- 
ness and  innocency.'  And  that  our  ancient 
Friends  understood  the  apostle's  advice  in  its 
full  extent,  appears  beyond  all  dispute,  from  what 
William  Penn  says  in  his  reflections  and  max- 
ims, «&.  « If  thou  art  clean  and  warm,  it  is 
sufficient ;  for  more  does  but  rob  the  poor,  and 
please  the  wanton.5 

« If  every  expense  which  might  be  spared,  \& 
vainly  wasting  that  which  properly  belongs  to 
the  poor,  and  every  conformity  to  vain  and  fool- 
ish fashions,  is  to  please,  and  indeed  often  meant 
to  allure  the  wanton ;  what  can  be  said  fii  de- 
fence of  the  appearance  of  so  many  of  our  young 


116 

Jk 
women  ?  so  contrary  to  that  humble,  self-deny- 
ing state  of  service,  which  as  followers  of  Christ, 
is  required  of  them  ;  choosing  to  appear  as  mis- 
tresses, as  ladies,  delighting  themselves  like  the 
false  church,  in  sitting  as  queens  to  be  looked 
at  and  admired,  rather  than  capacitated  to  fulfil 
the  sober  ends  of  life  in  the  service  we  owe  one 
to  another.  From  a  sense  of  the  prevalency  of 
these  evils,  how  can  the  sincere  lovers  of  truth 
but  mourn ;  deeply  mourn  even  over  many  of 
those  who  esteem  themselves,  and  are  esteemed, 
as  moderate,  comparatively  with  others.  The 
softness  and  delicacy  of  their  clothing,  more 
adapted  to  pagan  king's  palaces  than  christian 
pilgrim's  cottages  ;  the  putting  on  of  their  appa- 
rel too  manifestly  calculated  to  allure  the  wan- 
ton ;  to  these  things  may  be  added,  that  most 
abhorrent  practice  formerly  used,  and  now  come 
again  in  fashion,  of  causing  their  clothes,  evert 
their  rich  silks,  &c.  to  trail  on  the  ground; 
which  thou  mayest  remember,  was  a  matter  of 
so  great  concern  to  our  dear  friend  Daniel  Stan- 
toia ;  an  evil  which  appears  to  me  to  be  of  a  ve- 
ry deep  dye,  as  it  is  not  a  sudden  start  of  pas- 
sion in  the  vain  mind,  but  a  deliberate  act,  whicfe 


requires  time  and  consideration  y  hence  it  may 
be  truly  termed  (though  I  believe  not  consider- 
ed as  such,  by  many  in  the  practice)  an  act  of 
open  rebellion  to  every  impression  of  grace,  as 
well  as  an  act  of  the  greatest  ingratitude  to 
Him,  who  permits  them  to  use  and  enjoy  the 
jmost  delicate  and  nice  apparel ;  (though  I  be- 
lieve it  is  in  his  wrath,  as  he  answered  the  de- 
sire of  the  Israelites,  when  they  lusted  for  flesh.) 
I  have  been  sorrowful  to  observe  so  many  mani- 
fest such  ingratitude,  as  to  throw  off  all  conside- 
ration of  delicacy  and  neatness,  and  only  be- 
cause it  is  the  fashion ;  because  the  God  of  this 
world  (the  devil)  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the 
air,  who  rules  in  the  children  of  disobedience, 
calls  to  follow  his  fashions,  they  should  con- 
form to  that  which  is  in  itself  so  odious,  so  des- 
tructive, so  contrary  to  every  sense  of  reason 
and  neatness,  what  shall  I  call  it  ?  indeed  it  is 
in  itself  more  expressive  of  that  folly  and  cor- 
ruption, in  which  the  human  heart  is  capable  of 
running,  than  words  can  set  forth.  If  our  dear 
young  women  would  take  these  things  into  se- 
rious consideration,  it  may  prevent  that  which 
in  a  solemn  time  may  give  them  inexpressible 


118 

gain.  I  remember  the  case  of  a  young  woman* 
with  whom  I  had  repeatedly  treated  on  these 
subjects,  but  to  no  purpose ;  when  in  a  consump- 
tion, and  near  her  end,  I  was  desired  to  visit  her, 
and  wa»  informed,  that  she  wanted  the  company 
of  serious  people,  and  had  requested  her  mother 
not  to  admit  those  who  indulged  themselves  in 
the  fashionable  dress  of  the  times :  being  assur- 
ed that  those  who  appeared  thus  could  not  af- 
ford her  the  comfort  she  wanted.  This  will 
certainly  be,  more  or  less,  the  case  with  every 
individual  at  such  a  trying  hour,  except  sunk 
into  stupidity,  or  seared  into  hardness  of  heart. 
Sentiments  of  this  kind,  I  earnestly  wish  may 
be  enforced  upon  our  young  women  ,•  that  they 
may  consider  the  nature  and  design  of  the  chris- 
tian religion,  the  high  profession  we  make,  that 
the  eyes  of  thoughtful  people  are  upon  us,  that 
they  mark  and  despise  us  for  our  inconsisten- 
cy, and  above  all,  what  a  blessing,  and  mat* 
ter  of  joy  it  will  be  to  the  well  disposed  youth 
in  a  future  day,  to  reflect,  that  they  have  to 
the  utmost  of  their  power,  by  their  conduct, 
held  up  the  hands  of  their  parents  and  friends, 
in  strengthening  the   little  good  that  remains 


119 

amongst  us.  Do  not  think  I  say  too  much  on 
the  subject ;  for  indeed  it  is  a  matter  of  the 
greatest  weight,  and  ought  to  be  laid  open  in 
its  fullest  light;  in  which  I  am  encouraged 
from  a  hope  that  the  sensible  youth  will  so  far 
see  its  reasonableness  and  necessity,  as  to  be- 
come advocates  on  behalf  of  the  cause  of  truth. 

"  With  near  affection,  dear  — — ,  I  wish 

ever  to  remain  thy  real  friend, 

"ANTHONY  BENEZET." 


He  ardently  inculcated  his  belief,  in  the  great 
responsibility  attached  to  the  possession  of 
wealth,  and  from  those  who  were  blessed  with 
ability  to  do  good,  to  the  poor  and  friendless, 
he  implored  the  most  liberal  dispensation  of 
money  for  their  relief.  His  appeals  on  this  ac- 
count were  often  availing.  He  frequently  ob- 
tained large  donations  for  charitable  purposes 
from  those,  who  were  greatly  indebted  to  his 
efforts  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  "  luxury  of  doing 
good  J9    So  judicious  was  he  in  the  distribution 


120 

of  pecuniary  assistance,  that  without  any  sug- 
gestion by  him,  his  friend,  the  late  John  Rey- 
nel  of  .Philadelphia,  made  him  his  almoner,  and 
in  that  capacity  Benezet  had  the  satisfaction 
for  many  years  to  dispose  of  a  large  part  of 
the  income  of  that  benevolent  man,  thus  nobly 
devoted  to  the  comfort  of  his  afflicted  fellow 
creatures.  When  he  observed  a  covetous  dis- 
position, in  those  who  were  abounding  in  riches, 
he  was  more  severe  in  the  expression  of  disap- 
probation, than  respecting  almost  any  other 
error,  in  the  circle  of  human  frailty.  He  con- 
sidered a  penurious  mind  as  scarcely  rational, 
and  aware  of  his  liability  to  censure  with  se- 
verity those  who  indulged  that  degrading  pro- 
pensity, he  often  cheeked  himself  when  about 
to  give  loose  to  his  feelings  in  relation  to  it, 
having  been  frequently  heard  to  say,  that  M  tlie 
highest  act  of  charity  in  the  world,  was  to  bear 
with  such  unreasonableness  of  mankind." 

An  acquaintance  of  his,  relating  to  him  in 
conversation  that  he  had  recently  heard  of  a 
person  in  whose  coffers  after  his  death,  many 
thousand  dollars  in  specie  were  found,  Bene- 
zet expressed  great  sorrow  at  being  informed 


121 

of  the  circumstance,  and  begged  of  Lis  friend 
to  give  as  little  currency  as  possible  to  the  fact, 
adding,  that  he  thought,  "  it  would  have  been 
quite  as  reasonable  to  have  had  as  many  thou- 
sand pairs  of  boots  or  shoes  in  the  house,  whilst 
the  poor  were  suffering  in  bare  feet  for  the  want 
of  them." 

lie  deeply  lamented  the  consequences  which 
he  saw  were  produced  by  the  love  of  money ; 
tracing  to  that  cause  many  of  the  unhappy  tur- 
moils which  often  laid  waste  the  harmony  of  fami- 
lies, and  which  was  not  unfrequently  the  foun- 
dation of  sanguinary  conflicts  between  nations. 
When  he  has  been  made  acquainted  with  the 
existence  of  disputes  between  individuals  on  ac- 
count of  pecuniary  matters,  he  has  been  known 
to  negociate  with  them,  by  persuading  one  to 
accept  less  than  his  demand,  and  the  other  to 
allow  more  than  he  at  first  conceived  right, 
and  having  thus  brought  them  to  the  nearest 
point  of  reconciliation,  he  has  paid  the  differ- 
ence out  of  his  own  pocket,  and  restored  the 
parties  to  peace  and  intercourse,  without  suffer- 
ing either  of  them  to  know,  it  was  purchased  at 
the  expense  of  his  purse. 

M 


132 

Though  "full  of  good  works,  and  alms  deeds," 
which  yielded  him  the  gratitude  of  thousands ; 
respected  for  his  integrity  even  by  those  whose 
conduct  he  opposed  $  honoured  at  home  and 
abroad  for  the  purity  of  his  motives ;  admired  for 
his  expanded  views  of  the  principles  of  eternal 
justice  and  right,  which  he  unceasingly  advoca- 
ted ;  and  beloved  and  caressed  by  his  personal 
friends  ;  circumstances  combining  to  elevate  the 
mind,  which  few  men  could  have  resisted  ;  he 
was  favoured  continually  to  have  on  the  armour 
of  humility  5  and  protected  by  it5  none  of  those 
things  exalted  his  depending  spirit.  His  opinion 
of  himself  is  truly  exhibited  in  the  following  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  to  one  of  his  friends. 


«  Philadelphia,  Seventh  Month,  16th,  177b. 

**  I  herewith  send  John  Woolman's  Journal, 
and  that  part  of  his  work  published  in  England. 
Thy  aunt  shewed  us  a  written  testimony  Bent 
from  England,  which  I  applied  to  her  for,  but 
she  tells  my  wife,  that  thou  hast  a  copy  of  it.  I 
know  of  nothing  else  I  can  furnish,  which  would 
help  the  designed  testimony.  O !  that  I  may 
have  reason  to  believe,  that  my  name  is  written 


123 

hi  the  meanest  page  (if  there  is  any  difference) 
of  the  book  o-f  life,  and  I  care  nothing  about  tes- 
timonies. I  beg  thou  wilt  spare  complimenting 
me  about  the  importance  of  my  engagements ; 
thou  amongst  others  of  my  fellow  men  art  wel- 
come, nay  hast  a  right,  to  my  poor  service.  I 
indeed  desire  not  to  be  my  own  :  but  I  am  much 
out  of  humour  with  most  of  what  I  have  heen 
long  doing,  as  well  as  with  myself.  I  am  rather 
fearful,  much  of  my  activity  has  been  nothing, 
indeed  less  than  nothing.  O!  that  a  true  gos- 
pel nothingness  may  prevail  in  my  heart,  is  my 
most  sincere  desire." 

In  a  postscript  to  another  letter,  he  thus  ex- 
presses himself,  "I  desire  to  verify  in  myself 
in  all  cases,  the  doctrine  of  one  of  the  copies  I 
use  in  my  school, 

*c  Just  be  thy  thoughts,  and  all  thy  words  sincere, 
And  know  no  wish,  but  what  the  world  may  hear." 


The  person  of  Anthony  Benezet  was  small ; 
his  countenance  was  composed  of  strong  and  in- 
teresting features,  and  though  his  face  beamed 
with  benignant  animation,  it  was  far  from  being 
handsome.     Of  this  he  was  himself  sensible, 


124 

for  a  friend  of  liis  once  suggesting  a  desire  to  pos- 
sess his  portrait,  he  did  not  assign  the  conscien- 
tious objection  which  he  probably  entertained 
on  the  subject,  but  thus  replied  to  the  request, 
«'  0/  no,  no,  my  agly  face  shall  not  go  down  to 
posterity." 

His  understanding  was  naturally  good,  and 
from  books,  and  an  extensive  intercourse  with 
mankind,  he  had  acquired  a  valuable  stock  of 
information.  He  devoted  some  attention  to  medi- 
cal inquiries,  in  the  prosecution  of  which  after 
he  had  passed  the  meridian  of  his  days,  lie  at- 
tended a  course  of  lectures  on  anatomy.  His 
mind  manifested  an  unusual  degree  of  innocence, 
and  though  guileless  himself,  he  could  quickly 
penetrate  the  disguises  with  which  others  en- 
deavoured to  veil  their  follies,  or  their  vices. 
He  was  religious  without  gloom,  and  cheerful 
without  levity.  And  whilst  he  ardently  pur- 
sued the  path,  in  which  he  believed  duty  to  God 
conducted  him,  neither  the  rigour  of  bigotry, 
nor  the  littleness  of  ostentation,  had  any  place 
in  his  well  regulated  mind.  He  was  remark- 
ably active  in  his  movements,  having  much  of 
the  vivacity  of  manner  peculiar  to  his  country- 
men.   He  did  not  indulge  himself  with  any  su- 


125 

perfluity  in  dress;  his  clothing  being  made  in  the 
most  simple  manner,  and  of  some  material^  se- 
lected on  account  of  the  durability  of  its  tex- 
ture. His  habitation!  and  patriarchal  mode  of 
living  bore  testimony  to  the  consistency  of  his 
practice  with  his  profession.  But  humble  as 
they  were,  his  dwelling  was  the  resort,  and  his 
hospitable  table  has  been  spread  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  some  of  the  worthiest  characters  of 
the  country,  whilst  few  foreigners  of  distinction 
who  came  to  Philadelphia,  left  it  without  visit- 
ing him.  He  was  never  idle  :  perhaps  no  man 
more  faithfully  occupied  his  time,  and  few*  if 
any,  to  so  good  a  purpose.  Even  at  an  advanced 
period  of  life  he  denied  himself  what  he  conceiv- 
ed to  be  the  needless  portion  of  time  commonly 
allotted  to  rest,  having  been  heard  to  say,  ««  he 
could  not  reconcile  a  habit  of  such  slothful  in- 
dulgence  with  the  activity  of  christian  fervour*9* 
When  engaged  in,  the  composition  of  his  books^ 

*  Cotton  velvet. 

f  One  of  the  first  brick  dwellings  erected  in  Philadelphia^ 
situate  on  the  north  side  of  Chesnut,  between  Third  and 
Fourth  Streets.  It  remains  a  venerable  specimen  of  primi« 
tive  architecture, 

M  % 


126 

it  was  his  practice  to  devote  several  hours  before 
the  dawn  of  day  to  writing,  and  the  occasional 
relaxation  of  his  mind  being  indispensable,  he 
sought  retirement  and  bodily  exercise  in  the  cul- 
tivation of  a  vegetable  garden.  He  had  a  facul- 
ty which  seems  nearly  allied  to  what  is  termed 
"association  of  ideas."  This  was  peculiarly 
evidenced  in  geography.  He  possessed  so  inti- 
mate a  knowledge  of  that  branch  of  science,  that 
when  any  particular  latitude  and  longitude  were 
mentioned,  his  mind  by  a  comparison  and  colla- 
tion of  relative  facts,  instantly  presented  a  correct 
image  of  the  spot  on  the  globe. 

The  equanimity  and  sprightliness  of  his  dispo- 
sition were  such,  that  he  could  even  derive  satis- 
faction from  sources  which  would  have  produced 
melancholy  or  discontent,  in  the  mind  of  almost 
any  one  but  himself.  Having  formed  an  opinion 
that  the  great  temperance  for  which  he  was  re- 
markable, would  contribute  among  other  advan- 
tages, to  prolong  the  vigour  of  his  memory,  he  on 
•ne  occasion  in  conversation  with  a  friend,  enfor- 
ced the  idea  with  considerable  zeal.  This  happy 
consequence  did  not  however,  result  from  his  ab- 
stemious habit  of  living;  for  several  years  after, 
when  at  the  age  of  seventy,  he  told  the  same  gen- 


tleman,  that  the  faculty  of  recollection  had  become 
much  impaired,  assuring  him  at  the  same  time, 
tf*  that  its  failure  enabled  him  then  to  read  with 
great  satisfaction  and  pleasure  those  books  he 
had  perused  in  younger  life,  the  impression  of 
which  had  been  dissipated  by  the  lapse  of  time.-" 
He  often  indulged  an  inherent  facetiousness  of 
mind,  though  the  sallies  of  his  wit  were  always 
controlled  by  the  predominance  of  good  will, 
and  intended  to  convey  lessons  of  instruction- 
Seeing  one  of  his  friends  in  the  street,  who  was 
remarkable  for  a  hurrying  habit  he  had  acquir- 
ed, Benezet  called  to  him  to  stop,  <*  I  am  now  in 
haste"  said  the  gentleman,  "and  will  speak 
with  yon,  when  we  next  see  each  other ;"  but 
resolved  on  his  purpose,  he  detained  him  an  in- 
stant, with  this  impressive  question,  «  dost  thou 
think  thou  wilt  ever  find  time  to  dieT9  they  then 
parted,  and  the  person  who  received  this  laconic 
interrogation,  was  afterwards  heard  to  say,  that 
«  he  felt  infinitely  indebted  to  Mr.  Benezet  for 
his  kind  admonition"  The  sympathies  of  his 
nature  extended  to  every  thing  that  was  suscepti- 
ble of  feeling,  in  so  much  that  he  avoided  the 
use  of  animal  food  during  several  of  the  last 
years  of  his  life  j  indeed  so  exquisitely  delicate 


138 

was  his  sensibility  in  this  respect,  that  the  sight 
of  blood  would  immediately  produce  swooning, 

A  surgeon  who  had  been  humanely  employed 
in  dressing  the  wounds  of  some  American  sol- 
diers during  the  revolutionary  war,  was  giving 
him  an  account  of  the  nature  of  the  injuries 
they  had  received,  and  of  the  sufferings  they  un- 
derwent ;  he  listened  for  a  while  to  the  affecting 
story,  but  unable  any  longer  to  bear  the  recital, 
he  laid  his  hand  upon  his  friend,  and  said,  "stop* 
or  I  shall  faint  " 

Being  once  on  business  at  the  house  of  an  ac- 
quaintance, he  was  detained  until  the  dinner  was 
served,  of  which  he  was  invited  to  partake,  but 
observing  one  of  the  dishes  on  the  table  to  be 
poultry,  he  pleasantly  answered,  «  what ,  would 
you  have  me  eat  my  neighbours  V9  and  bidding 
the  family  farewell,  departed. 

His  kindness  and  charity  towards  objects  of 
distress  were  intuitive*  One  of  his  friends  rela- 
ted having  seen  him  take  off  his  coat  in  the  street 
and  give  it  to  an  almost  naked  mendicant,  and 
go  home  in  his  shirt  sleeves  for  another  garment 

Another  instance,  illustrative  of  this  prompt 
benevolence  may  be  cited ;  whilst  it  affords  aa 
additional  proof  of  the  efficacy  of  his  humane 


i2& 

appeals  to  those  in  high  worldly  rank,  even  when 
the  mode  of  his  application  was  calculated  by  its 
singularity,  to  render  his  efforts  abortive. 

During  the  American  war,  when  the  British 
army  occupied  Philadelphia,  Benezet  was  as- 
siduous in  affording  relief  to  many  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, whom  the  state  of  things  at  that  distress- 
ing period  had  reduced  to  great  privation.  Ac- 
cidentally observing  a  female,  whose  counten- 
ance indicated  calamity,  he  immediately  inquir- 
ed into  her  circumstances.  She  informed  him 
that  she  was  a  washerwoman,  and  had  a  family 
of  small  children  dependant  on  her  exertions 
for  subsistence ;  that  she  had  formerly  support- 
ed them  by  her  industry,  but  then  having  six 
Hessians  quartered  at  her  house,  it  was  impos- 
sible from  the  disturbance  they  made,  to  attend 
to  her  business,  and  she  and  her  children  must 
speedily  be  reduced  to  extreme  poverty.  Hav- 
ing listened  to  her  simple  and  affecting  relation, 
Benezet  determined  to  meliorate  her  situation. 
He  accordingly  repaired  to  the  general's  quar- 
ters ;  intent  on  his  final  object,  he  omitted  to 
obtain  a  pass,  essential  to  an  uninterrupted  ac- 
cess to  the  officer,  and  entering  tlie  house  with- 
out ceremony  he  was  §topt  by  the  sentinel,  who 


130 

after  some  conversation,  sent  word  to  the  gene- 
ral « that  a  queer  looking  fellow  insisted  upon 
seeing  him."  He  was  soon  ordered  up.  Benezet 
on  going  into  tJie  room,  inquired  which  was  the 
chief,  and  taking  a  chair*  seated  himself  heside 
the  general.  Such  a  breach  of  etiquette  sur- 
prised the  company -pre sent,  and  induced  a  Ger- 
man officer  to  exclaim,  in  his  vernacular  tongue, 
"what  does  the  fellow  meanV9  Benezet  how- 
ever, proceeded,  in  French,  to  relate  to  the  gene- 
ral the  cause  of  his  visit,  and  painted  the  situation 
of  the  poor  woman  in  such  vivid  colours,  as 
9peedily  to  accomplish  the  purpose  of  his  hu- 
mane interference.  After  thanking  the  com- 
mander for  the  ready  acquiescence  to  his  re- 
quest, he  was  ahout  taking  his  departure,  when 
the  general  expressed  a  desire  to  cultivate  a 
further  acquaintance,  requesting  him  to  call 
whenever  it  might  he  convenient,  at  tlie  same 
time  giving  orders,  that  Benezet  in  future  should 
be  admitted  without  ceremony. 

From  about  the  age  of  thirty,  the  constitu- 
tion of  Anthony  Benezet  became  firm,  enabling 
him  to  endure  great  exposure  and  fatigue  with 
the  uninterrupted  enjoyment  of  good  health,  un- 
til within  a  short  time  previously  to  his  lamented 


4  31 

death  :  an  event,  which  it  is  supposed,  was  ac- 
celerated by  his  adoption  of  vegetable  diet,  at  a 
period  when  the  gradual  decay  of  his  physical 
energy,  required  a  plan  more  liberal  and  nour- 
ishing. But  though  he  was  for  many  months 
evidently  declining,  he  continued  to  pursue  his 
career  of  goodness  without  any  abatement  of 
zeal,  submitting  only  to  the  influence  of  his  dis- 
ease by  confinement  at  home,  for  about  ten  days 
before  his  valuable  labours  terminated  on  earth. 
As  soon  as  it  became  known  that  he  was  ill, 
an  extensive  and  deep  interest  was  excited  in 
Philadelphia.  His  friends  and  fellow  citizens 
anxious  to  learn  what  was  his  real  situation, 
w£re  seen  crowding  about  his  dwelling,  making 
affectionate  inquiry  concerning  him,  and  ex- 
pressing the  ardent  solicitude  which  they  felt, 
that  he  might  be  restored  to  his  accustomed 
usefulness  in  the  world.  When,  however,  they 
were  assured  that  his  recovery  was  hopeless, 
the  desire  of  many  persons  to  see  him  was  such, 
as  to  induce  an  indulgence  of  their  wish.  They 
seemed  to  want  his  dying  benediction  extended 
to  them.  They  were  admitted.  The  chamber 
in  which  he  lay,  and  the  passage  that  led  to  it, 
were  filled  with  approaching  and  retiring  mour- 


133 

ners.  He  kindly  received  these  visits  of  respect 
and  love.  His  last  hours,  like  his  long  and  ex- 
cellent life,  were  full  of  the  most  important  in- 
struction. At  that  awful  crisis,  when  the  cha- 
racter displays  no  false  glare,  and  all  fictitious 
supports  sink  into  nothing,  he  taught  what  he 
had  always  inculcated,  that  humanity  had  no- 
thing  to  boast  of;  that  the  efforts  of  man,  could 
shed  no  unfading  gloinj  on  himself.  He  had 
hot  much  to  communicate,  and  the  few  expres- 
sions which  escaped  his  lips,  were  such,  as  could 
only  have  proceeded  from  a  mind  ahased  by  a 
sense  of  its  own  unw  or  thine  ss,  and  reverently 
depending  on  the  mercy  of  Heaven!  At  one 
time  he  said,  «  I  am  dying,  and  feel  ashamed  to 
meet  the  face  of  my  maker,  I  have  done  so  little 
in  his  cause."  He  was  also  heard  to  utter 
"alack  /  alack  /  we  are  poor  creatures,  I  can 
take  no  merit  for  any  thing  I  have  done,  there  is 
mostly  something  underneath  that  is  selfish, 
which  will  not  hear  sifting." 

At  another  time  he  said,  "  I  could  wish  to 
live  a  little  longer,  that  I  might  bring  down  self." 

On  the  day  preceding  his  death,  he  took  an 
affecting  farewell  of  his  wife,  who  was  then  in 
an  infirm  state  of  health*    Their  final  separ^- 


133 

tion  on  earth,  must  have  been  soothed  by  the 
reflection  which  enabled  him  to  address  her 
thus,  for  the  last  time,  "  we  have  lived  long,  in 
love  and  peace."  They  had  no  offspring  to  wit- 
ness this  touching  scene,  on  whom  his  mantle 
might  fall,  who  could  aspire  to  imitate  his  ex- 
ample, and  inherit  his  unblemished  fame. 

His  bodily  suffering  toward  the  close,  was 
great,  but  he  endured  the  pangs  of  expiring  na- 
ture with  fortitude  and  patience ;  he  contempla- 
ted, with  christian  calmness,  the  moment  which 
would  terminate  his  connexion  with  mortality : 
and  when  the  mysterious  union  between  mind 
and  matter  was  dissolved,  his  redeemed  spirit 
entered  no  doubt,  into  the  everlasting  habitation 
of  the  righteous  ! 

He  died  on  the  third  day  of  the  Fifth  Month 
(May)  Anno  Domini,  1784,  aged  seventy-one 
years.  When  it  was  announced  that  death  had 
numbered  him  among  his  victims,  the  expres- 
sion of  regret  was  universal.. 

It  was  a  day  of  sorrow.  The  afflicted  wi- 
dow, the  unprotected  orphan,  and  the  poor  of 
all  descriptions,  had  lost  the  sympathetic  mind 
of  Benezet.     Society  lamented  the  extinguish 


134 

ment  of  the  brilliant  light  of  his  philanthropy  : 
the  friendless  tribes  wtyo  wandered  in  the  Ame- 
rican wilderness,  and;  the  oppressed  Africans, 
were  indeed  bereft;  for  his  willing  pen  and 
tongue  had  ceased  forever  to  portray  the  his- 
tory of  their  injuries,  or  plead  for  the  establish- 
ment of  their  rights,  before  the  sons  of  men. 

At  the  interment  of  his  remains,  in  Friends* 
burial  ground,  which  took  place  two  days  after 
his  death,  the  greatest  concourse  of  people  that 
had  ever  been  witnessed  on  such  an  occasion  in 
Philadelphia,  was  present,  being  a  collection  of 
all  ranks  and  professions  among  the  inhabitants, 
thus  manifesting  the  universal  esteem  in  which 
he  was  held.  Among  others  who  paid  that  last 
tribute  of  respect,  were  many  hundred  black 
people,  testifying  by  their  attendance,  and  by 
their  tears,  the  grateful  sense  they  entertained 
of  his  pious  efforts  in  their  behalf. 

His  will,  in  his  own  hand  writing,  executed 
•n  the  fourth  day  of  the  Third  Month,  1784, 
bequeaths  his  estate  to  his  wife  during  her  natu- 
ral life,  and  at  her  death,  directs  the  payment 
©f  several  legacies  to  poor  and  obscure  persons, 
in  sums  of  from  two  to  five  pounds.  The  resi- 
due, he  devises  in  trust  to  the  overseers  of  the 


135 

public  school,  "to  hire  and  employ  a  religious 
minded  person  or  persons,  to  teach  a  number  of 
negroe9  mulatto  or  Indian  children,  to  read, 
write,  arithmetic,  plain  accounts,  needle  work,  &c* 
and  it  is  my  particular  desire,  founded  on  the 
experience  I  have  had  in  that  service,  that  in 
the  choice  of  such  tutor,  special  care  may  he  had 
to  prefer  an  industrious,  careful  person,  of  true 
piety,  who  may  he  or  become  suitably  qualified, 
who  would  undertake  the  service  from  a  princi- 
ple of  charity,  to  one  more  highly  learned  not 
equally  disposed." 

In  a  codicil  to  that  instrument,  executed  three 
days  previously  to  his  demise,  he  directs  his 
books  to  be  given  to  « the  library  of  Friends, 
in  Philadelphia :"  they  amounted  to  nearly  two 
hundred  volumes,  principally  on  religious  and 
medical  subjects.  He  also  bequeathed  to  the 
"  Pennsylvania  society  for  promoting  the  aboli- 
tion of  slavery,  &e."  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds. 

Such  were  the  services,  and  thus  was  termi- 
nated the  life  of  Anthony  Renezet.  The  emo- 
tions that  crowd  upon  the  mind,  when  contem- 
plating the  assemblage  of  estimable  qualities 
which  were  displayed  in  his  character,  are  of  no 
ordinary  nature.    With  feelings  tending  to  en- 


136 

thusiastlc  eulogy,  his  biographer  pauses  in  the 
recollection  of  a  fact,  communicated  by  one  of 
the  most  intimate  surviving  friends  of  this 
amiable  and  excellent  man.  He  disapproved 
of  the  often  over-rated  testimonies  which  were 
recorded  of  the  dead,  and  requested  the  venera- 
ble gentleman  alluded  to,  to  use  his  exertions  it 
he  should  survive  him,  to  prevent  any  posthu- 
mous memorial  concerning  him,  should  his 
friends  manifest  a  disposition  to  offer  such  a  tri- 
bute of  affection  to  his  memory,  thus  adding  to 
the  injunction,  "  but  if  they  ivill  not  regard  my 
desire,  they  may  say, 

ANTHONY  BENEZET 

WAS 

A  POOR  CREATURE, 

AND 

THROUGH  DfVINE  FAVOUR, 

WAS 

ENABLED  TO  KNOW  IT." 


TINTS. 


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